STEFAN KISIELEWSKI (1911-1991): Piano Sonata No. 2, Suite, 3 Stormy Scenes, Danse vive, Prelude and Fugue, Toccata, Capriccio rustico, Moto perpetuo.

Description: You've got to like a composer who is straight to the point in describing his style. Yes, Szymanowski was the director of the Warsaw Conservatory when Kisielewski was a student there but "Personally, I was never fond of programmatic ecstasy or exhibitionist lyricism, or the murmuring and rustling impressionism. I loved the Prokofiev of Scythian Suite and the Stravinsky of The Rite of Spring. I was (and still am) enthused by ruthless motoric dynamic 'hack-up'". Even if we don't know exactly what the translator of the Polish meant by "hack-up", we get the point and it perfectly describes almost all of these piano pieces which cover the period from 1939 to 1983 and in which the slowest tempo indication is andantino or maestoso. Magdalena Lisak (piano).