VYTAUTAS BACEVICIUS (1905-1970): Orchestral Works, Vol. 1 - Piano Concertos No. 3, Op. 44 and No. 4, Op. 67 "Symphonie Concertante", Spring Suite, Op. 64.

Description: That this is the first of a series should thrill adventurous collectors since the Lithuanian (brother of the Polish composer Grazyna Bacewicz) is the closest thing to a Scriabin follower we've had in 20th century music, applying his own concepts of "Music as a symbol of supreme Thought striving toward the Universum, the core and source of existence". The 18-minute suite (1958 and contrapuntally dense, seething with energy) and the Fourth concerto (1962) are most representative of this late stage of Bacevicius' career while the earlier Third (1946/49) still shows the influences of his time spent in Paris. This is music of fascinating harmonic originality which also has moments of melting lyrical beauty. For more on Bacevicius, see our June 2007 release of more of his orchestral music on Toccata Classics (06I008). Gabrielius Alekna (piano), Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra; Christopher Lyndon-Gee.