PENDERECKI, K.: Piano Concerto, "Resurrection" / Flute Concerto (B. Douglas, Dlugosz, Warsaw Philharmonic, Wit)

" I see no reason not to be enthusiastic about this release, and the piano concerto is growing on me" - Raymond Tuttle

"Antoni Wit and the Warsaw Philharmonic are as always exemplary advocates for the composer. Highly recommended, and possible 2013 Want List material." - James A Altena 

***** - (Exceptional Disc) 

Supersonic Pizzicato 

Artistic Quality 9     Sound Quality 9

"... It’s [Piano Concerto]a fabulous addition to the repertoire, His [Pendereci]scoring is also stunning, and it goes without saying that Antoni Wit and the Warsaw Philharmonic do him proud this well engineered disc is an important, indeed mandatory acquisition for collectors of first-rate contemporary music."  

"This ongoing Naxos series of recordings covering most of Penderecki’s output has been one pleasure after another, with this one topping the list as a prime example of a superlative achievement. Pianist Barry Douglas (who released a very successful string of recordings for RCA in the 80s) is back and in obviously top form, easily surmounting every technical and expressive hurdle this concerto throws at him, and as always, the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Antoni Wit simply can’t be outclassed in this kind of music. Good to know that "meaningful, substantial and moving" music is still being written and performed, and presented this well." 

Performance ****      Recording ****

"... Wit draws a kaleidoscopic performance, making this another valuable addition to the Penderecki discography."

**** - Excellent disc 

"... Besides Douglas and Dlugosz there are stand-out individual performances from Urszula Janik, Jennifer Montone and Jean-Louis Capezzali. Above all, Wit and the WPO, totally at home in this uncompromising repertoire, combine to produce a series of outstanding performances, technically and expressively comparable to, sometimes even surpassing, those of Penderecki himself conducting different orchestras on EMI Classics and DUX." 

"... This ongoing Naxos series of recordings covering most of Penderecki’s output has been one pleasure after another, with this one topping the list as a prime example of a superlative achievement. Pianist Barry Douglas (who released a very successful string of recordings for RCA in the 80s) is back and in obviously top form, easily surmounting every technical and expressive hurdle this concerto throws at him, and as always, the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Antoni Wit simply can’t be outclassed in this kind of music. Good to know that "meaningful, substantial and moving" music is still being written and performed, and presented this well."