Karol Szymanowski: "Stabat Mater op. 53", "Litany to the Virgin Mary op. 59", "Demeter op. 37 bis". Jadwiga Gadulanka - soprano, Jadwiga Rappé - alto, Andrzej Hiolski - baritone, National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra Katowice, Polish Radio Choir Cracow, dir. Antoni Wit. DUX 2002 - DUX 0349, DDD 43'10''.
This title features three pieces by Karol Szymanowski - the most renown representative of Polish music of the first half of 20th century. They are among his most moving, emotionally intense works. The impressionistic Demeter pictures the drama of a woman who lost her child. The composer masterfully expresses her pain and sorrow by waving dynamics (but with prevailing piano) and with wide and tender melodic phrases. Stabat Mater written in 1925-26 also expresses the mother's sorrow after the loss of her son. Szymanowski combined in this work a prayer-like aura with dramatism, which resulted in a contemplative, almost mystical piece. The disc is masterfully complemented - both in terms of music and its topic - by Litania do Marii Panny / Litany to the Virgin Mary. The returning theme of the Blessed Virgin, this time as the addressee of the prayer is expressed by tender and lyrical music, and in the 1st part - the Dwunastodźwięczna Cytara / Twelve-tone Cithara - by one of the most beautiful musical themes ever written by Szymanowski.
Karol Szymanowski: Stabat Mater op. 53, Litany to the Virgin Mary op. 59, Demeter op. 37 bis. Jadwiga Gadulanka - soprano, Jadwiga Rappé - alto, Andrzej Hiolski - baritone, National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra Katowice, Polish Radio Choir Cracow, dir. Antoni Wit. DUX 2002 - DUX 0349, DDD 43'10''.
Polish Music Information Center
Polish Composers' Union
February 2003