Zygmunt Stojowski- Violin Concerto, Violin Sonata, Romance (Acte Prealable)
Concerto - the solo part has everything you would expect in a Romantic concerto of the era-double stops, octaves, taxing, rapid passagework (...) The gorgeous second movement is the best (...) The Romance written for Jacques Thibaud in 1919, is a winning addition to the repertoire (think Chausoon/Bruch), poignant and lyrical, rising to a powerful climax. By far the strongest work is the Second Sonata from 1911, written for Polish violinist Arthur Argiewicz (1881-1966) and championed by Enescu and Kochański among others. The dialoque between the two instruments, the attractive themes and the graceful (and frequently demanding) writting for both instruments common to all four movements must surely find favour with many players. The sonata may sound more French than Polish (the first movement is clearly inspired by Franck´s), but when played as sensitively and persuasively as this it makes you wonder why it has been gathering dust these many years.
Jeremy Nicholas, The Gramophone, 01. 2010
Agnieszka Marucha brings back to life the Sonata No. 2 in E major, Romance op. 20 and Violin Concerto in G major by Stojowski. Her record deserves great applause. It will be enjoyed by conneseurs and beginner music lovers alike. The CD is published by the Acte Prealable label, an expert in finding and promoting little known Polish music performed by outstanding Polish musicians. The label always presents interesting repertoire, very well recorded and with a very informative booklet in three languages. This CD not only makes one want to hear more works by Stojowski but also more performances of this young violinist.
The 1919 Romance, written for Pawel Kochanski, can stand unblushingly alongside the concert pieces by Saint-Saëns and Bruch. It has a sometimes Elgarian flavour but its chocolate bittersweet flow of nostalgia is also reminiscent of the constancy of song in the Glazunov and Schoeck concertos. It was written for and premiered by Wladyslaw Gorski who premiered the work in Paris. It is as good as the brace of Stojowski piano concertos recorded by Hyperion.
Rob Barnett, musicweb-international.com
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