Witold Lutoslawski (1913-1994)

Episodes

SeriesEpisodeTitleFirst
Broadcast
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201801The Inescapable Forces Of Circumstance2018012220190225 (R3)Witold Lutoslawski's extraordinary life mirrors the turbulent history of his homeland Poland, yet he consistently denied the effect of any of this tumult on his music. Donald Macleod is joined this week by Dr Nicholas Reyland to explore the truth of this denial alongside the life and career of one the most revered composers of the Twentieth Century. The week begins by exploring Lutoslawski's traumatic youth in Warsaw and his terrifying experiences during the Second World War.

Lacrimosa

Lucy Crowe (soprano)

BBC Symphony Orchestra

Edward Gardner (conductor)

Two Studies

Ewa Kupiec (piano)

Symphonic Variations

Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra

Witold Lutos?awski (conductor)

Variations on a Theme of Paganini (2 piano original version)

Martha Argerich, Gabriela Montero (pianos)

Symphony No 1

Los Angeles Philharmonic

Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor)

Producer: Sam Phillips.

Donald Macleod and Dr Nicholas Reyland explore Lutoslawski's traumatic youth.

201802Folk Music, Stalinism And Beyond2018012320190226 (R3)Witold Lutoslawski's extraordinary life mirrors the turbulent history of his homeland Poland, yet he consistently denied the effect of any of this tumult on his music. Donald Macleod is joined this week by Dr Nicholas Reyland to explore the truth of this denial alongside the life and career of one the most revered composers of the twentieth century. Tuesday's episode focusses on the aftermath of the war in Poland, and Lutoslawski's brief flirtation with folk music.

Little Suite (Mala Suita) - II. Hurra Polka

NDR Symphony Orchestra

Krzysztof Urbanski (conductor)

Bukoliki - I. Allegro vivace

Stella Czajkowski (piano)

Wiosna (Spring) - no.1. Piosenka o zlotym listku (Song of the golden leaf)

Anna Radziejewska (mezzo-soprano)

Mariusz Rutkowski (piano)

Concerto for Orchestra

BBC Symphony Orchestra

Edward Gardner (conductor)

Musique fun耀bre

Cleveland Orchestra

Christoph von Dohnanyi (conductor)

Producer: Sam Phillips.

Donald Macleod explores Lutoslawski's post-war experiences.

201803Branching Out2018012420190227 (R3)Witold Lutoslawski's extraordinary life mirrors the turbulent history of his homeland Poland, yet he consistently denied the effect of any of this tumult on his music. Donald Macleod is joined this week by Dr Nicholas Reyland to explore the truth of this denial alongside the life and career of one the most revered composers of the Twentieth Century. Wednesday's episode introduces us to the composer's alter-ego, Derwid, and explores Lutoslawaski's conducting career, and his reaction to both further political unrest in Poland and personal tragedy.

Derwid': Nie oczekuje dzis nikogo (I'm not expecting anyone today)

Rena Rolska (vocals)

Polish Radio Dance Orchestra

Ryszard Damrosz (conductor)

Livre pour Orchestre

Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra

Witold Lutoslawski (conductor)

Cello Concerto

Rostropovich (cello)

Orchestre de Paris

Producer: Sam Phillips.

Donald Macleod focuses on the different strands of Lutoslawski's work in the 50s and 60s.

201804Solidarity And Freedom2018012520190228 (R3)Witold Lutoslawski's extraordinary life mirrors the turbulent history of his homeland Poland, yet he consistently denied the effect of any of this tumult on his music. Donald Macleod is joined this week by Dr Nicholas Reyland to explore the truth of this denial alongside the life and career of one the most revered composers of the Twentieth Century. Today's episode explores the unrest that led to the emergence of the Solidarity movement in Poland, Lutoslawski's involvement with Solidarity and a change in his musical direction.

Les espaces du sommeil

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone)

Berlin Philharmonic

Witold Lutoslawski (conductor)

Epitaph for Oboe and Piano

Melanie Ragge (oboe)

Ann Martin-Davis (piano)

Symphony No 3

BBC Symphony Orchestra

Edward Gardner (conductor)

Producer: Sam Phillips.

Donald Macleod explores Lutoslawski and the Solidarity movement in Poland.

201805 LASTFinal Years And Acclaim2018012620190301 (R3)Witold Lutoslawski's extraordinary life mirrors the turbulent history of his homeland Poland, yet he consistently denied the effect of any of this tumult on his music. Donald Macleod is joined this week by Dr Nicholas Reyland to explore the truth of this denial alongside the life and career of one the most revered composers of the Twentieth Century. This week's final programme explores Lutoslawski's final years, which saw him showered with awards by musical establishments across Europe

Fanfare for CUBE

Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra

Antoni Wit (conductor)

Piano Concerto

Christian Zimmerman (piano)

Berlin Philharmonic

Sir Simon Rattle (conductor)

Symphony no 4

LA Philharmonic

Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor)

Chantefleurs et Chantefables - I. La Belle-de-nuit

Valdine Anderson (soprano)

New Music Concerts Ensemble

Witold Lutos?awski (conductor)

Producer: Sam Phillips.

Donald MacLeod and Dr Nicholas Reyland explore Lutoslawski's final years and works.