Bacewicz: Complete Symphonic Works, Vol. 1 WDR Sinfonie-Orchester & Łukasz Borowicz

• Grażyna Bacewicz (1909 - 1969): Symphony No. 3:
• 1 Bacewicz: Symphony No. 3: I. Drammatico 09:31
• 2 Bacewicz: Symphony No. 3: II. Andante 07:16
• 3 Bacewicz: Symphony No. 3: III. Vivace 04:03
• 4 Bacewicz: Symphony No. 3: IV. Finale. Moderato 08:41
• Symphony No. 4:
• 5 Bacewicz: Symphony No. 4: I. Appassionato. Allegro inquieto 06:51
• 6 Bacewicz: Symphony No. 4: II. Adagio 06:01
• 7 Bacewicz: Symphony No. 4: III. Scherzo. Vivace 04:13
• 8 Bacewicz: Symphony No. 4: IV. Adagio mesto. Allegro furioso 07:37
• Total Runtime 54:13

Info for Bacewicz: Complete Symphonic Works, Vol. 1

The symphonic oeuvre of the Polish composer Grażyna Bacewicz has never before been recorded in its entirety 'from one source', so that the series beginning here represents a pioneering act. The Third Symphony for large symphony orchestra was written in early 1952 and the monumental and pathetic music shows a hitherto unknown face of the composer. One of its characteristics is the use of large instrumental blocks, although fragments also appear that hint at the lighter expressivity of the neoclassical tradition. It is a masterfully constructed work and the overt formal schemes of the Classical period are complemented by the subtle use of elements that were characteristic of music between the wars - in particular the timbres of the French tradition. Nevertheless, this work is not about setting new accents. The same applies to the Fourth Symphony. The orchestra of this work from 1953 is larger than in the previous symphony - among other things, English horn, E-flat and bass clarinet, contrabassoon and harp are now also called for. In both works, the composer achieved an excellent balance between the music of the past (form referring to tradition) and new sources of inspiration (folklore) as well as a new approach to traditional elements (rhythm). As a result, she managed to reconcile the autonomous, artistic qualities of her music with the expectations of the cultural policy of the time. We are very happy to have found congenial interpreters for this project, which sets new standards in the WDR Symphony Orchestra and the Polish conductor Lukasz Borowicz.

WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
Lukasz Borowicz, conductor

Łukasz Borowicz
Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Poznań Philharmonic, Principal Guest Conductor of the Cracow Philharmonic. One of the most versatile conductors of his generation, Łukasz Borowicz regularly leads the major European orchestras in the core Germanic repertoire as well as important Central and Eastern-European works. He conducts opera and has received numerous prizes for his over 110 recordings. From 2007 to 2015 he was Chief Conductor of the Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra in Warsaw, and from 2006 to 2021 he was Principal Guest Conductor of the Poznań Philharmonic.

In the 22/23 season Borowicz debuts with Israel Philharmonic, Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic (Zlin) and Georgisches Kammerorchester (Ingolstadt) and returns to WDR Sinfonieorchester, Prague Philharmonia PFK, Staatskapelle Halle, Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra (Ostrava), Orchestre National de Lille, Pardubice Chamber Orchestra and Wrocław Opera among others.

In the 2020-2022 seasons Borowicz made his debuts with Orquestra Titular del Teatro Real (Madrid), Chœur de l’Opéra national du Rhin, Orchestre symphonique de Mulhouse, Brandenburger Symphoniker and returned to L’Opéra Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie, Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK among Prague Philharmonia PFK among others.

Łukasz Borowicz has appeared as guest conductor and recorded with London Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Paris Opera (Les Huguenots), SWR Sinfonieorchester, Bamberger Symphoniker. Gürzenich-Orchester Köln, Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, Hamburger Symphoniker, MDR Sinfonieorchester, Luzerner Symfonieorchester, Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group and a number of other orchestras and ensembles, including all the major Polish symphonies. He has led concerts at the Rossini Festival in Pesaro, Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival and Kissinger Sommer Festival, and has an ongoing relationship with the Beethoven Easter Festival in Warsaw, which has seen sixteen rarely played operas performed to date.

Borowicz made his operatic debut at Polish National Opera with Don Giovanni, which has been followed by over 190 performances at the house including several premieres. Recent opera premieres include a new production of Moniuszko’s Halka at the Theater an der Wien and the Teatr Wielki – National Opera of Poland as well as Janacek’s Journal d’un disparu and de Falla’s El amor brujo at the Opéra national du Rhin.

Borowicz’s recordings have been awarded four Diapason d’Or prizes. Symphonic recordings include the complete Violin Concertos by Grażyna Bacewicz (Chandos), the Complete Symphonic Works by Andrzej Panufnik (cpo), and several titles for Hyperion. The final installment of the Panufnik cycle was selected as an Editor’s Choice by Gramophone magazine, and Borowicz received the ICMA Special Achievement Award in 2015 for his pioneering work on the cycle. In 2018 he received another ICMA award for his recording of Quo Vadis by Feliks Nowowiejski (cpo). His collaboration with Piotr Beczała on Deutsche Grammophon’s recording Heart’s delight – Songs of Richard Tauber was met with wide critical and public praise. Recent DVD of Moniuszko’s Halka (Unitel) was awarded Critic’s Choice of the Opera News (July 2022). Ongoing recording projects include release of Hugo Alfven’s Complete Symphonies with the DSO Berlin as well as Bacewicz’s Complete Symphonic Works with WDR Sinfonieorchester (cpo).

Born in Warsaw in 1977, Łukasz Borowicz graduated from the Frederic Chopin Music Academy, where he studied under Bogusław Madey. He has received the Polityka Passport Award (2008), Coryphée of Polish Music Award (2011), Norwid Award (2013) and Tansman Prize honouring an outstanding musical personality (2014) as well as Honorary Award of Polish Composers Union (2021).

Booklet for Bacewicz: Complete Symphonic Works, Vol. 1