Orchestral Concert CDs is delighted to announce the publication of a long-awaited and historically important new release in the Virtual Concert Hall Series.
This particular issue consists of a live concert recorded in Huddersfield Town Hall, featuring the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Witold Rowicki.
2014 was the 100th anniversary of the birth of maestro Rowicki, and despite the fact that he died 25 years previously, at the age of 75, the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra and its management were anxious to use the occasion to celebrate his enormous contribution to the orchestra and to Polish music generally. Indeed, two concerts were given in his honour in October 2014 to mark the event.
This OCCDs disc was produced for the anniversary in direct association with the Warsaw Philharmonic, following the selection of the Huddersfield recording to illustrate maestro Rowicki’s work and his close association with the orchestra. It was also selected because of the technical excellence of the recording, which results in absolutely natural sound, described by the German Record Critics’ Award Association judges as “sensational” (in reference to another recording of the same forces, made in the same week).
A special-edition commemorative booklet, Witold Rowicki in memoriam, was released (in Polish language only) by the orchestra. Taking the form of a small hardback book, the publication was accompanied by a DVD containing a documentary (again, in Polish only) and a CD containing the OCCDs Huddersfield concert recording. Now that the centenary celebrations are over, it has been decided to release a limited number of pressings of the CD in the Virtual Concert Hall Series, incorporating the standard OCCDs style of presentation (with booklet text in English).
As an additional point of interest, 2014 would also have been the 101st anniversary of the birth of the highly respected pianist Jan Ekier, who unfortunately died in August 2014, just a couple of weeks before the date. He participated in the Huddersfield concert as soloist in Szymanowski’s Symphony Concertante.
The entire concert, which opened with a performance of Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony and closed with Brahms’ Symphony no 4, is captured in excellent fidelity, and the performances are a delight, enhanced by the superb recording. We are pleased to be able to confirm that Jan Ekier was sent (and expressed his approval of) a copy of this recording shortly before his death.