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- Witold Lutosławski
Variations on a Theme by Paganini [Wariacje ne temat Paganiniego] (1978)
- Chester Music Ltd (Worldwide except Poland, Albania, Bulgaria, China, countries of former Czechoslovakia, Croatia, former territories of Yugoslavia, Cuba, North Korea, Vietnam, Romania, Hungary and countries of former USSR)
Chester Music is the publisher of this work in all territories except Poland, Albania, Bulgaria, China, countries of the former Czechoslovakia, Cuba, North Korea, Vietnam, Romania, Hungary and the whole territory of the former USSR, where the copyright is held by Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne (PWM).
- 2(pic).2+ca.2.2(cbn)/4331/timp.3perc/hp/str
- piano
- 6 min
Programme Note
During the German occupation of Poland, Andrezj Panufnik and I played unofficial concerts of two-piano music in Warsaw. This was the origin of these Variations which we first performed in 1941. As a basis I took Paganini’s 24th Caprice for solo violin and my Variations follow closely his model. In each Variation I translate the violin line for keyboard. Polyharmony often occurs between the two keyboards but tonality remains a clear force with frequent traditional dominant-tonic cadences.
In 1977, I was asked by the pianist Felicja Blumental for a composition and revised these Variations as a Concerto for Piano and Orchestra. It expands the piano-duo piece by repeating each section (apart from the theme itself and Variations 10 and 11) with the soloist and orchestra exchanging roles for the second playing of each Variation. Otherwise there is very little change in the musical substance. Blumental gave the first performance of the new version in Miami on 18 November 1979 with Brian Priestman conducting the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra.
© Witold Lutoslawski
In 1977, I was asked by the pianist Felicja Blumental for a composition and revised these Variations as a Concerto for Piano and Orchestra. It expands the piano-duo piece by repeating each section (apart from the theme itself and Variations 10 and 11) with the soloist and orchestra exchanging roles for the second playing of each Variation. Otherwise there is very little change in the musical substance. Blumental gave the first performance of the new version in Miami on 18 November 1979 with Brian Priestman conducting the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra.
© Witold Lutoslawski
Scores
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Discography
Opera Omnia Vol. 6
- LabelAccord
- Catalogue NumberACD 198
- ConductorJacek Kaspszyk
- EnsembleWroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra
- SoloistTomasz Daroch, cello; Garrick Ohlsson, piano; Lutoslawski Piano Duo; Ensemble Court-circuit
- Released31st March 2014
- LabelNaxos
- Catalogue Number8 553423
- ConductorAntoni Wit
- EnsemblePolish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
- SoloistAdam Kruszewski, baritone; Piotr Kusiewicz, tenor; Bernd Glemser, piano
- Released22nd April 1997
Lutoslawski Orchestral Works II
- LabelChandos
- Catalogue NumberCHSA 5098
- ConductorEdward Gardner
- EnsembleBBC Symphony Orchestra
- SoloistLouis Lortie (piano)
Szymanski & Lutoslawski
- LabelDecca
- Catalogue Number448 258 2DF2
- ConductorC. von Dohnanyi / P. Kletzki / V. Ashkenazy / Witold Lutoslawski
- EnsembleSuiss Romande Orchestra / Cleveland Orchestra / London Sinfonietta / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
- SoloistPeter Pears, tenor, Peter Jablonski, piano
Essential Lutoslawski
- LabelPhilips
- Catalogue Number464 043-2PM2
- ConductorWitold Lutoslawski / W. Lutoslawski / W. Rowicki
- EnsembleBavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra / Polish National Philharmonic Orchestra / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Polish National Radio Orchestra
- SoloistHeinrich Schiff, cello; Martha Argerich, piano; Nelson Freire, piano; Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone
