Grażyna Bacewicz - Orchestral Works, Vol. 2 (Peter Donohoe; Sakari Oramo)

Information

Composer: Grażyna Bacewicz

• Symphony No. 2
• Piano Concerto
• Concerto for Large Symphony Orchestra

Peter Donohoe, piano

BBC Symphony Orchestra

Sakari Oramo, conductor

Date: 2025

Label: Chandos

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The second volume of Sakari Oramo’s Bacewicz series highlights three rarely recorded works by pioneering Polish composer Grażyna Bacewicz, performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra with Peter Donohoe as piano soloist. Bacewicz’s vibrant music blends neoclassicism and modernism with exceptional craftsmanship. The Piano Concerto (1949), awarded second prize in a Chopin centenary competition, showcases her bold style. The Second Symphony (1951), a four-movement work premiered at the First Festival of Polish Music, draws on classical tradition and innovation. The Concerto for Large Symphony Orchestra (1962) reflects the composer’s evolving musical language during a later creative phase.

Finnish conductor Sakari Oramo (b. 1965) began his career as a violinist before transitioning to conducting in 1993. He quickly rose to prominence, becoming principal conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in 1996. Known for his engaging podium presence and deep commitment to both Nordic composers like Sibelius and Nielsen and contemporary music, he has also championed English composers such as Elgar and John Foulds. Oramo held leadership roles with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic and, since 2013, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, where he is especially admired for his performances at the Barbican, Maida Vale, and the Last Night of the Proms.

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