Billed as Volume 6 in Naxos’ complete survey of Lutoslawski’s orchestral works, this disc belongs in the collection of anyone who really cares about contemporary music. The First Symphony deserves to be much better known: it’s a vibrant work in a folk-inflected idiom derived somewhat from Bartók, and Wit’s performance is every bit as fine as the composer’s own (on EMI). In the two vocal works, the Silesian Trptych and Chantefleurs et Chentefables, Wit is joined by a superb Ukrainian soprano, Olga Pasiecznik, who sings these pieces as well as they ever have been. Naxos’ production values throughout this project have been exceptionally high; texts and translations are included, and the recorded sound is very good. There is no better planned or executed contemporary music project than this one on any label, and at budget price, this is simply irresistible. [10/8/1999]
