Record Reviews

MATEUSZ STRZELECKI / ANDRZEJ PAWEL SLAZAK ~ DEDYKACJA REQUIEM / OPUS 2018/30 ~ POLAND ~ Classical Recorded: 2018 Released: 2019 As the title of this album suggests and the liner notes describe, it is "…a tribute to the outstanding Polish (Classical Music) composers of the first half of the 20th Century, whose lives were marked by the war and oppression..." It includes compositions by Karol RathausFind albums by this artist, Aleksander TansmanFind albums by this artist, Wladyslaw SzpilmanFind albums by this artist, Jozef KofflerFind albums by this artist and Roman PadlewskiFind albums by this artist performed by violinist Mateusz StrzeleckiFind albums by this artist and pianist Andrzej Pawel SlazakFind albums by this artist. The music includes six relatively short pieces composed between 1925 and 1949, five of which are violin / piano duets and one is a solo piano suite, some of them multi-part, altogether fifteen tracks. The recording quality is excellent. To set the record straight Rathaus was not Polish; although born in the Ukrainian city of Ternopil, which has obvious Polish roots, at the time of his birth it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Rathaus was educated in Vienna and Berlin and is considered of Austrian-German heritage. Of course he was also, or perhaps primarily Jewish, as were Tansman, Szpilman and Koffler, a fact not mentioned in the album´s otherwise erudite booklet. Since the album also celebrates Poland´s hundredth Independence Anniversary, perhaps it also symbolizes the depth of the Jewish contribution to Polish Culture. The music is marvelous from start to finish, offering a kaleidoscopic display of modern Classical Music as diverse as one may wish for, moving between Neo-Romanticism, Impressionism, Dodecaphony and even Folkloristic influences. Seemingly limited by the scope of the duet (or solo piano) it offers a rich and elegant fabric, harmonic sophistication and above all ingenuity. Listeners, who would usually avoid Classical Music, could be easily enthralled by what this album has to offer. Both instrumentalists heard on this album are sophisticated performers and Masters of their instruments, which becomes immediately apparent from the opening notes. Their superb teamwork makes even the most complex parts of the compositions present on this album to sound coherent and effortless to absorb by the listener, which of course is admirable. Kudos are due to the classy RequiemFind albums on this label Records label for releasing highly prestigious, well researched and artistically significant projects like this one. Their collected catalogue includes some of the most interesting and challenging music made in Poland, always beautifully packaged and excellently produced. Hats off!

Updated: 17/06/2019Posted: 17/06/2019

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend