The works here date from early and late in Lutoslawski's career. The First Symphony (1941-7), written before the composer found his individual voice, he characterised as bright and cheerful, perhaps because its darker slow movement is less successful than those with drive and energy. The Dance Preludes (1955), with solo clarinet, mix irrepressible perkiness and moodiness. The later works, Chain 2 (1984-5) and Partita (1988), both feature solo violin. Like everything else here, they marry impeccable judgement of musical gesture and colouristically sophisticated orchestration, while having the best of both worlds in terms of advanced compositional techniques and long-standing tradition. The performances are wonderfully vivid.
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