Best known for his choral and symphonic works, Krzysztof Penderecki has also written many fascinating concertante pieces.
His Concerto Grosso No. 1 makes full use of the potential for interplay between three solo cellos and orchestra. The Largo for Cello and Orchestra, actually a fully-fledged concerto, was composed for Mstislav Rostropovich.
These works contrast with the virtuoso Sonata for Cello and Orchestra, an ironic, even playful piece unconventionally scored for a large orchestra which includes two bongos, three wood blocks, whip, claves, guiro and tam-tam.
“A phenomenal cellist, one of the best I’ve ever heard.” Krzysztof Penderecki on Ivan Monighetti
“Arto Noras is a passionate advocate of the Largo, Ivan Monighetti leads the Sonata in style, and Rafal Kwiatkowski ably completes the trio in the Concerto grosso. The outstanding recording keeps them in perfect balance with the orchestra, which under Antoni Wit's experienced directions proves equally adept at Penderecki old and new.” BBC Music Magazine, January 2009 ****
“Arto Noras is an eloquent soloist in Largo, and all the other performers emerge with credit in recordings that tend to home in on the soloists while maintaining a rather resonant acoustic.” Gramophone Magazine, December 2008
