Witold Lutoslawski (1913-93)

The titles of the three symphonic works of Witold Lutoslawski included in the present recording suggest extra-musical inspiration, literary, fable or narrative, Livre, Novelette and Chain, the first suggesting, perhaps, Couperin, the second Schumann and the third the only one with a direct Polish translation, a title used by Lutoslawski for a series of works. Surprisingly the final work included, the Cello Concerto, with its less evocative, purely technical title, has strong extra-musical connections. It was written in 1969-1970 for a commission from the Royal Philharmonic Society and the Gulbenkian Foundation, and first performed on 14th October 1970 at the London Festival Hall by the cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, to whom it is dedicated, and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra under Edward Downes. The work, because of its dedication, has suggested as