LUDOMIR RÓZYCKI (1883-1953): Violin Concerto, Op. 70 (ed. & orch. Zygmund Rychert [b.1947]) (Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra Katowice; Rychert), for Violin and Piano: 2 Mélodies, Op. 5, 2 Nocturnes, Op. 30 (Pola Lazar [piano]), 4 pieces from the Ballet Pan Twardowski, Op. 45 (transcr. Ewelina Nowicka) (Michal Krezlewski [piano]).

Description: The two-movement, 24-minute concerto is an astoundingly lyrical and sunny composition when you consider that Rózycki wrote it after escaping south to Kraków from Warsaw while the Nazis were crushing the Warsaw Rising in 1944; you couldn't ask for anything more life-affirming. Go figure. The Mélodies and Nocturnes are charming salon trifles but the violinist who performs here has done us all a favor with 14 minutes of transcriptions (four of them) from the 1921 ballet Pan Twardowski which will certainly have you hungering for the real thing. Ewelina Nowicka (violin).