Paderewski: Symphony in B minor „Polonia” (2020)

Ignacy Jan Paderewski was a patriot and politician, and also a composer. One of his most prominent and spectatular works is the monumental Symphony in B minor, op. 24, „Polonia”.he three-part symphony, created between 1903 and 1908 for the fortieth anniversary of the January Uprising in Poland of 1863,  became a fulfilled prophecy both for Poland and for the composer himself.

DUX recording company offers us an exceptional and rich in vibrant instrumental momentum monumental recording of the Symphony in B minor, a result of cooperation between Bohdan Boguszewski and the Lviv National Phiharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine.

The Symphony was played the first time for a Polish audience  in 1910, in Lviv. The CD is a great way to commemorate that fact.

Just after its creation, the three-part Symphony was a success in Boston (conducted by Max Fiedler), London (conducted by Hans Richter), Paris (conducted by Andre Messager), and later, in Warsaw and Lviv (conducted by Henryk Opieński), but later it was forgotten. Only towards the end of the twentieth century did the Symphony in B minor regain some of its eclat as it was staged and recorded more and more often. 

There have been many recordings of the Paderewski Symphony in B minor, starting with the 1974 recording of the Symphony Orchestra of the Pomeranian Philharmonic conducted by Bohdan Wodiczko, but the DUX recording is a rare treat, because it uses full instrumentation from the original score, including bass sarrusophones and a percussion instrument called a tonitruon.

The Sympohy is flamboyant and multiwoven, but it’s also very suggestive and evocative, with its mantra-like reaccuring dramatic theme played on four bass sarusophones and the tonitruon. The organ part at the end of the dynamical and expressive part one (Adagio Maestoso. Allegro vivace e molto apassionato) is very impressive, and creates a solemn and ceremonial mood.

 The elegiac part two (Andante con moto) is very poetic and lyrical, and the clarinet solo is a true gem. The final Vivace is dramatic, potent and expressive. Every attentive listener can hear that Paderewski used themes from the funeral march and the Polish national hymn.

The maestry in instrumentation and diversity of sound are a wonder for the whole 64 minutes of the recording. It is a model recording, in every way it’s one of the finest interpretations of Paderewskis Symphony in B minor.

The concert-premiere took place on the October 28th, 2020, in the Jan Szyrocki Concert Studio S-1 of Radio Szczecin.