WEINBERG Symphony No. 8 ‘Polish Flowers / Antoni Wit

Meiczyslav WEINBERG (1919-1996) 

Symphony No. 8 ‘Polish Flowers’, Op. 83 (texts by Julian Tuwim (1894-1953)
(World Premier Recording)

Rafał Bartmiński (tenor), Magdalena Dobrowolska (soprano) & Ewa Marciniec (alto)
Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir,
Antoni Wit – conductor

1 Podmuch Wiosny = Gust Of Spring 3:57
2 Bałuckie Dzieci = Children Of Bałuty Tenor – Rafał Bartmiński 4:02
3 Przed Starą Chatą = In Front Of The Old Hut Tenor – Rafał Bartmiński 3:59
4 Był Sad = There Was An Orchard Soprano – Magdalena Dobrowolska Alto Vocals – Ewa Marciniec 5:13
5 Bez = Elderberry 3:16
6 Lekcja = Lesson 7:33
7 Warszawskie Psy = Warsaw Dogs Tenor – Rafał Bartmiński 5:44
8 Matka = Mother Tenor – Rafał Bartmiński 6:24
9 Sprawdiedliswość = Justice
10 Wisła Płnie = The Vistula Flows Tenor – Rafał Bartmiński 12:11

TT 58:32

Recorded at Warsaw Philharmonic Hall, Wasaw, Poland, from 13th to 16th June, 2011.

Label: Naxos – 8.572873
Barcode: 747313287376
Format: CD, Stereo
Country: Europe
Released: 2013
Genre: Classical
Style: Modern

A product of Mieczysław Weinberg’s remarkable burst of creativity in the 1960s, the Eighth Symphony uses texts drawn from Julian Tuwim’s epic poem Polish Flowers which reflect on Poland’s troubled past and ominous future. Social inequities, poverty, cruelty in times of war and a final luminous vision of hope are eloquently expressed in one of Weinberg’s most personal and powerful artistic statements.