Bacewicz: Orchestral Works, Vol. 2

Symphony No. 2 (1950); Piano Concerto (1949); Concerto for Large Symphony Orchestra (1962)

BBC Symphony Orchestra/Sakari Oramo
Peter Donohoe (piano)
Chandos CHSA5345 SACD
chandos.net

In this compelling second volume of Grażyna Bacewicz's orchestral works, Sakari Oramo once again demonstrates why this Polish composer's extraordinary orchestral writing deserves wider recognition. The conductor's interpretative insight transforms these scores into vivid, urgent statements that speak directly to contemporary audiences.

The Second Symphony, completed in January 1951 and premiered at that year's inaugural Festival of Polish Music, stands as Bacewicz's true symphonic breakthrough—though technically her third attempt after she discarded an earlier work. Her four-movement structure pays homage to classical tradition while blazing new trails through mid-century modernism. The BBC Symphony Orchestra captures every nuance of this surprisingly compact work with playing that demonstrates exquisite judgement of colour and texture. Like master craftsmen selecting the perfect tools for their art, the orchestra reveal layers of meaning through precisely calibrated dynamics and phrasing. The scherzo fizzes with irrepressible energy, while the outer movements crackle with the vibrant, dynamic language that marks Bacewicz as a true pioneer of twentieth-century expression.

Peter Donohoe proves the ideal advocate for the Piano Concerto of 1949, a work that emerged from the Frederic Chopin Composers' Competition commemorating the great pianist's centenary. Although the work claimed only second prize—with no first awarded—it deserves far better recognition due to its virtuosic qualities. Donohoe navigates its technical challenges with commanding authority, finding poetry in the lyrical second movement before unleashing spectacular fireworks in the finale. His partnership with Oramo reveals both the work's debt to Chopin and its distinctly modern voice.

The disc concludes with Bacewicz's Concerto for Large Symphony Orchestra from 1962, which the composer herself viewed as marking a crucial evolutionary stage in her artistic development. With its arresting opening, this mysterious, colour-rich work casts an almost hypnotic spell. The response of the BBC Symphony Orchestra is nothing short of magical, with the percussion section delivering moments of breathtaking technical mastery while Bacewicz's expanded instrumentation—including celesta and orchestral piano—creates an otherworldly sonic palette.

This recording doesn't merely document important repertoire; it makes an urgent case for Bacewicz's place among the twentieth century's most vital voices. Under Oramo's inspired direction, these works pulse with life, revealing a composer whose vision transcends her historical moment to speak with startling immediacy to our own troubled times. Essential listening for anyone seeking to understand the full scope of modern orchestral achievement.