This is good music, though even in Panufnik’s early works there is a certain sameness of procedure: the slow buildup to a climax that breaks off suddenly, often repeated; the ostinato rhythms, often assisted by the percussion; the predominantly slow tempos. When skillfully deployed, as here, the result is quite characterful and worth getting to know. The Nocturne is particularly beautiful; Harmony is more acerbic but expertly proportioned, and the two overtures have some really exciting moments. Most of this music has been recorded before, but these performances jump straight to the top of a very small heap. If you only know the Heroic Overture from Jascha Horenstein’s typically clunky version, you’ll be amazed at what the music really sounds like in the hands of a conductor up to the task. In short, Lukasz Borowicz is terrific; so is the orchestra, and the engineering. This is a series well worth watching–and hearing. [9/22/2010]
