The circle of influence among Eastern European composers of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries was understandably tight, with the achievements of one generation inexorably motivating the next. Such is certainly the case with the three composers heard on this album, one Czech and two Polish:
Leos Janácek, Karol Szymanowski, and
Witold Lutoslawski. While this album's focus is
Lutoslawski's complete works for violin and piano, all three composers explore extended techniques on the violin, including false harmonics, multiple stopped notes, and glissandos, as well as signature compositional technique, most notably
Lutoslawski's "controlled aleatoric" system in which both the piano and violin have notes and rhythms written out, but are not supposed to be played together in any sort of traditional passage. The technical skills required to turn this into anything more than controlled chaos are extensive. Violinist
Ariadne Daskalakis and pianist Miri Yampolsky deliver on these demands with seeming ease, going far beyond mere technical execution and instead collaborating on a truly engaging, riveting performance. Both artists grip listeners with their careful attention to dynamics, phrasing, and tone color. The balance between them is extremely clear and unfettered; Naxos' clean, detailed sound adds even more to the intimacy of the performance.