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The instrumental concerto, one of the oldest musical genres, has undergone numerous transformations over the centuries. Composers of today still frequently exploit the concept of opposing the orchestra to the soloist. The latest ANAKLASIS release, VARIOUS FORMS OF FRICTION, comprises three original concertos composed by Krzysztof Wołek, performed here by Ensemble OMN in dialogue with soloists: successively, a pianist, a cellist, and a bass clarinettist. The album will enter distribution on 22nd September.

ANAKLASIS label’s catalogue offers releases of new Polish music on three types of carriers. Apart from compact and Blu-ray discs, vinyl records are an important part of the offer. As of 31st July, two items already known to jazz and improvised music fans in CD format will also be on sale on LPs. These are: LEGEND (a contemporary look at the music of Henryk Wieniawski) and SZYMANOWSKI / X-RAY (a modern take on the works of Karol Szymanowski).

How far is jazz from classical music? Do they really speak radically different languages? Michael Bates’ Acrobat and Lutosławski Quartet are ensembles from different musical environments. They have established an artistic dialogue focusing on the oeuvre of one of Poland’s greatest 20th-century composers: Witold Lutosławski. The results of their work have been recorded and will soon be released under the Polish music label ANAKLASIS. The CD METAMORPHOSES: VARIATIONS ON LUTOSŁAWSKI enters the market on 28th June.

Bloody crime, family tragedy, the force of destiny… The timeless works of ancient playwrights continue to move audiences also today as well as inspiring present-day artists. Aeschylus’ Oresteia has thus become the basis for Agata Zubel’s dramopera to a libretto by Maja Kleczewska. The two artists confronted the ancient tragedy with modern artistic means of expression. Their vision of the ancient drama has been recorded and released under the ANAKLASIS label on a CD that goes on sale today.

This is by no means a piece about the centuries-long Polish-German conflict. It is, instead, a tale of impossible love, of tragic conflict between personal happiness and the common good.

The most fascinating phenomena in contemporary music; a wide range of genres; outstanding works, excellent composers and performers – are the trademarks of the record label ANAKLASIS, launched by PWM Edition. ANAKLASIS is now celebrating its third birthday. It continues to grow at a dizzying pace and maintains the high artistic standards of its releases.

When asked to attempt a definition of her music, she called it lyrical expressionism. The choice of this term says much about the emotional intensity of Elżbieta Sikora’s music, which may reflect the experience of her two home countries, Poland and France, but is also a consequence of her artistic maturation in an age when two powerful trends – the avant-garde and neo-Classicism – were vying for the palm. Such a label may also result from the artist’s focus on the listener as her target, whom she invariably attempts to surprise, shock, or bewilder.

The workings of inspiration are truly inscrutable. Karol Szymanowski sought it in the Antiquity, the Orient, and in Polish folklore. The artists of to-day, though cast from a different mould, are in turn inspired by the oeuvre of Szymanowski. They take up anew what the giant of Polish music left off nearly a hundred years ago and use his works as a point of departure for more explorations, a journey into the unknown.