On Sunday 25 June you can listen to the second programme in our series In the Spotlight. The programme is broadcast at the new time of 16:00 CET and features the Polish composer Witold Lutosławski (1913-1994).
Lutosławski grew up in the period before World War II when composers were eagerly searching for a Polish identity. He subsequently made a name for himself shortly after the war when the Polish communists were in power and imposed strict artistic guidelines. He gradually succeeded in escaping the straitjacket that they imposed. This was primarily because of the quality of his work, which earned him increasing recognition outside Poland, including in the Netherlands. The breakthrough came with his Concerto for Orchestra from 1954 and his fame grew thereafter with orchestral works such as Mi-parti, Jeux Venitiens, and his Third and Fourth Symphonies. In later years he also created interesting vocal compositions. Lutosławski was not a representative of a movement but someone who incorporated many sources of inspiration into a personal style. This earned him the status of a refined individualist.
The works featured in the programme are:
– 3rd Symphony, performed by the Berliner Philharmoniker and conducted by Witold Lutosławski.
– Paroles tissées. Peter Pears, tenor. London Sinfonietta conducted by Witold Lutosławski.
– String quartet. Alban Berg quartet.
