Music In Exile Vol. 3: Chamber Works by Szymon Laks

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Poland’s young Messages Quartet play with warmth and bring out the true qualities of Lak’s quartet writing, including the transparency of No. 5…the slow movement of No. 3 is wistfully haunting.... — BBC Music Magazine, September 2017, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 2nd Jun 2017
Catalogue No: CHAN10983
Label: Chandos
Series: Music in Exile
Length: 83 minutes

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Laks: String Quartet No. 4

Work length14:47

$3.00

$3.90

$5.25

Marie Bérard (violin), Steven Dann (viola), Winona Zelenka (cello)
Erika Raum
Recorded: 14-16 November 2016
Recording Venue: Koerner Hall, The Royal Conservatory of Music, Telus Centre for Performance and Learning, Toronto, Ontario

I. Allegro non troppo

Track length4:26

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II. Andante sostenuto

Track length5:56

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III. Quasi presto, con fuoco

Track length4:25

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Laks: Divertimento (Version for Violin, Clarinet, Bassoon & Piano)

Work length13:32

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$3.90

$5.25

Marie Bérard (violin), Joaquin Valdepeñas (clarinet), Frank Morelli (bassoon), David Louie (piano)
Recorded: 14-16 November 2016
Recording Venue: Koerner Hall, The Royal Conservatory of Music, Telus Centre for Performance and Learning, Toronto, Ontario

I. Allegro non troppo, quasi una marcia

Track length5:05

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II. Andante - Allegretto subito - Tempo I

Track length4:36

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III. Molto allegro e giocoso

Track length3:51

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Laks: Piano Sonatina

Work length15:01

$4.00

$5.20

$7.00

David Louie (piano)
Recorded: 14-16 November 2016
Recording Venue: Koerner Hall, The Royal Conservatory of Music, Telus Centre for Performance and Learning, Toronto, Ontario

I. Moderato

Track length5:05

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II. Scherzino. Vivace

Track length1:35

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III. Lento non troppo - Molto tranquillo - Meno mosso

Track length2:51

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IV. Allegro non troppo

Track length5:30

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Laks: Concertino

Work length13:32

$3.00

$3.90

$5.25

Sarah Jeffrey (oboe), Joaquin Valdepeñas (clarinet), Frank Morelli (bassoon)
Recorded: 14-16 November 2016
Recording Venue: Koerner Hall, The Royal Conservatory of Music, Telus Centre for Performance and Learning, Toronto, Ontario

I. Allegro scherzoso - Più mosso

Track length4:20

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II. Andante meditativo - Un poco meno mosso

Track length3:27

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III. Presto non troppo - Meno mosso e calando - Tempo I - Prestissimo

Track length5:45

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Laks: Passacaille (version for clarinet and piano)

Work length5:53

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Joaquin Valdepeñas (clarinet), Dianne Werner (piano)

Laks: Piano Quintet

Work length20:15

$4.00

$5.20

$7.00

Marie Bérard (violin), Steven Dann (viola), Winona Zelenka (cello), Dianne Werner (piano)
Erika Raum
Recorded: 14-16 November 2016
Recording Venue: Koerner Hall, The Royal Conservatory of Music, Telus Centre for Performance and Learning, Toronto, Ontario

I. Allegro quasi presto - Meno mosso, un poco rubato - Un poco meno - Tempo I - A tempo meno mosso - Tempo I

Track length4:44

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II. Lento sostenuto - Un poco animato e rubato - Tempo, tranquillo

Track length6:25

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III. Vivace non troppo - Tempo meno mosso - Da capo senza replica - Coda

Track length3:33

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IV. Allegro moderato ma deciso - Un poco pesante ma a tempo - Più mosso e agitato

Track length5:33

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About

Following the Grammy nominated Volume 2 featuring the music of Fitelberg, the Canadian ARC Ensemble presents Volume 3 in its "Music in Exile" series, dedicated to the music of Szymon Laks. Born in Warsaw in 1901, Laks studied in Paris before being deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. He soon joined and conducted the Auschwitz orchestra (his auditioning with a 'Jewish' work - Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto - went unnoticed). Although the trauma of his imprisonment left him alienated and reclusive, few of his works refer specifically to the Holocaust. A rather subtle, colorful and sometimes contrapuntal style emerges in his writing, notably represented in the early, elegant, Ravel-influenced Sonatina fo rpiano, in the later, melodic Passacaille, and the folk dances and songs woven into the cheerful String Quartet No. 4, as well as in the breezy, seemingly effortless Divertimento. These premiere recordings are a must-have, not only because of the compositional context and the quality of the music and its interpretations, but also because the unsparing eyewitness account that Laks gave of his imprisonment has eclipsed his musical legacy, leaving his works more than unjustly neglected.

Reviews

September 2017

Poland’s young Messages Quartet play with warmth and bring out the true qualities of Lak’s quartet writing, including the transparency of No. 5…the slow movement of No. 3 is wistfully haunting. This is fascinating music

August 2017

These impressive performances are well-recorded, the Koerner Hall offering warmth and intimacy.

15th June 2017

This collection of his chamber music – all claimed as premiere recordings, and sparkily played by the ARC Ensemble – speaks of musical development thwarted by an experience that only the inward-looking Passacaille of 1945 hints at. The 1927 Sonatina for solo piano, combining Chopin-like expansiveness with a dark-tinged French soundworld, is intriguing.

September 2017

Laks's compositional fluency was remarkable. You're reminded of, among others, Shostakovich, Poulenc and Martinu, but these pieces have their own distinctive flavour and personality. Outstanding performances from the Canadian ARC Ensemble, and excellent sleeve notes.

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