This is the third album featuring the piano works of Karol Szymanowski, performed by the outstanding interpreter of his music, Joanna Domanska. The Sonata is the first major work in the young composer's output, an exceptional piece full of contrasts. The dark, dramatic mood of the outer movements collides with the more cheerful middle sections, particularly the charming pastiche of the minuet. Preludium and Fugue are early works that already astonish with their seriousness, depth of expression, and a sophisticated use of texture and harmony. The Variations, considered one of the most difficult works in the piano repertoire, are based on a wistful theme drawn from the music of the Podhale region. This album features the first-ever recording in which the monumental, virtuosic finale is presented in it's entirety, without the shortened version suggested by the composer himself. The works on the album showcase a spectrum of emotions: lyricism, flickering mystery, subtlety, mournful gravity, triumph, and bravura. While all the pieces demonstrate a typically 19th-century virtuosic pianism, the most prominent quality is the depth of musical expression.

This album pays homage to the concept of the Schubertiad-the intimate gatherings held during the life of the "fourth Viennese classic," where the composer himself would sit at the piano, joined by the finest musicians, to perform Schubert's chamber works in the salons of wealthy friends. Much like these legendary soir�es, the album presents Schubert's most celebrated compositions from the final years of his life, brought to life by a group of exceptional young artists handpicked by Andrzej Pikul. The program features two expansive songs, enhanced by a wind instrument, which frame Schubert's iconic Sonata in A minor, written for the then-novel arpeggione, a unique instrument that, unfortunately, enjoyed a brief lifespan of less than fifty years. The album also includes Schubert's monumental Fantasy in F minor for Piano Four Hands. The centerpiece is a poignant miniature that evokes the melancholic yet beloved nature of Schubert-the composer who, despite his public charm, was often tormented by personal struggles. A unifying thread throughout the album is the piano, which, under the skilled hands of acclaimed chamber musician Andrzej Pikul, transports the listener into a world of musical camaraderie and enduring friendships.

Vienna in the second half of the 17th century, under the rule of Emperor Leopold I, was a significant center of musical life-a place where various styles and influences intersected, distinguished by it's own traditions and performance practices. The same was true for harpsichord music: composers working under the auspices of the imperial court supported and inspired each other, which resulted in a large number of surviving works preserved in libraries such as those in Leipzig, Berlin, and New York. The album includes both single-movement and multi-movement compositions that share a virtuosic character, highlighting the exceptional talent of the renowned harpsichordists of the era. Special attention should be given to the artist's own transcription of an unpublished and previously unrecorded suite by Biber, which is the result of Agata Meissner's own research work. The artist is affiliated with the Mozarteum University in Salzburg and divides her attention between performing early music and caring for historical instruments. Three of these instruments were used on this album, specifically chosen to emphasize the characteristics unique to the works of each composer. The album transports listeners to an era of fervent rhetoric and emotions, contained within the bounds of courtly elegance.

Forgotten Treasures of Polish Violin Music

This album features four compositions created over the past eight years, drawn from the rich catalog of Pawel Hendrich, a composer recognized by festivals, ensembles, and musical institutions worldwide. These works demonstrate the composer's consistent development of his unique style, with a particular focus on the architecture of musical form. The title, Fractals, perfectly encapsulates the essence of their structure, highlighting the limitations of material means, yet framed within diverse time and spatial scales. This is music that is deeply contemporary in it's expression, where robotic elements-requiring near-superhuman technical skill-are intertwined with the omnipresent spirit of improvisation, a domain that can only be fully realized by the human performer. The composer leaves the decision of which element will dominate to the performers each time they take the stage. The album is a live recording of brilliant interpretations by soloists and ensembles specializing in contemporary music performance, hailing from Poland, Austria, and Switzerland. These performances, recorded during Polish contemporary music festivals, feature the composer himself creating the electronic layer, bringing the compositions to life in an electrifying and dynamic way.

21st Mazurkas

This album features a stunning collection of works, including compositions from the past few decades that highlight the extraordinary talents of the Flaubinette Trio. One standout piece is by Roman Czura, written exclusively for the trio, with a title that directly references their name. It's the only work on the album that incorporates contemporary techniques, blending aleatoric elements with striking motifs, all expertly structured in a classical three-part form. The rest of the repertoire is equally captivating, with an uplifting character and harmonies that dance around an expanded tonality, avoiding harsh dissonances. Influences from dance music, burlesque, and impressionism subtly emerge throughout, creating a unique, engaging sound. Each composition is an opportunity to experience the rich timbre and dynamic range of the wind instruments, showcasing their expressive capabilities in every note. The varied textures, intricate melodies, and sophisticated dialogues between instruments offer a platform for virtuoso performances by the Flaubinette Trio and pianist Magdalena Dus, who joins them in the final track. Passionate about chamber music, the Flaubinette Trio has earned numerous international accolades and maintains an exceptional level of musical synergy. Their longstanding collaboration is palpable, delivering an unforgettable listening experience that celebrates both technical mastery and musical intimacy.

This album features three masterpieces by composers deeply connected to Vienna, two of whom-Haydn and Beethoven-earned the timeless title of "Viennese Classics," while Schubert, ever the bold innovator, explored new musical territories in their shadow. Created within less than fifty years, these works reveal the evolution of the piano sonata genre and the eventual rejection of it's conventional form-from Haydn's Sonata in E Major, which straddles the line between the galant style and fully developed classicism, to Schubert's avant-garde and extravagantly Romantic Fantasy in C Major, a work far ahead of it's time. Schubert's innovation would not have been possible without Beethoven's influence. Beethoven's late-period Sonata in E Major, written just two years earlier, serves as a bridge between the two, clearly paving the way toward a pre-Romantic expressive style. Mariusz Ciolko, an internationally performing artist, pedagogue, and competition juror, brings a unique interpretation to this demanding piano repertoire. He masterfully balances classical elegance with Romantic virtuosity, offering a performance that captures both the technical brilliance and emotional depth of these iconic works.

This album features 20th-century compositions where the flute plays the leading role. Eldin Burton's Sonatina, one of his few works, has become a staple of the flute repertoire. The outer movements are marked by a playful, joyful character, contrasted with the serene, subdued middle movement. The Sonata by Srul Irving Glick, making it's Polish premiere on this album, incorporates elements of traditional Jewish music, enhanced by rich melodies and harmonies based on frequent modulations. This is a hallmark of the Canadian composer's style. The final piece is Three Watercolors by the French flutist and composer Philippe Gaubert. These miniature works, for flute, piano, and bassoon, combine influences from Impressionism, program music, and Iberian traditions. The performers on this album are award-winning soloists, teachers, and outstanding chamber musicians, which is reflected in their nuanced and light interpretations.

This album features some of the most beloved works from the piano repertoire, all united by a common theme of distant reminiscences of lost happiness-either directly expressed in the titles of the pieces or subtly woven into the music, as in Schubert's Sonata in A Major, written just months before his death. It is both a tribute to Beethoven's style and a quintessential example of Schubert's unique blend of intimate emotions, expressed through lyrical motifs. While the virtuosic pianism is never absent, it takes a back seat to the emotional depth and expressiveness at the heart of the work. The cycles of Leos Janacek were composed during the darkest period of his life. His On an Overgrown Path memorializes his daughter, who tragically passed away, while In the Mists with it's transparent texture and innovative harmonies captures the internal void and confusion of the composer. Schumann's Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood) evokes the perspective of an adult looking back with nostalgia, longing for the simplicity and innocence of childhood. The music, with it's straightforward and sometimes naive language, mirrors the idealized view of the past. Min Jung Lee, a versatile and sensitive artist, delivers a deeply evocative interpretation. In her delicate readings, she perfectly captures the essence of these compositions, painting a misty portrait of the personal experiences of the composers, transposed into musical form on the staff.

The album consists of five triptychs written for solo guitar in the 20th century by composers representing various areas of musical culture. The album opens with a work by Tansman, which references the compositions of Fr�d�ric Chopin. Rodrigo's composition strictly follows his characteristic musical language, based on stylizations of dances and motifs drawn from Spanish tradition. Torroba's suite is a tribute to the music of the Castilian region, an emotional, virtuosic work with playful elements. The miniatures by Henz, with their dreamlike, meditative character, bear the mark of the versatile German composer's personal style, whose musical language combines elements of expressionism, twelve-tone technique, neoclassicism, and tonality. The final work on the album is by Barrios Mangor�, the Paraguayan guitarist and most prominent composer of his country, whose piece borders between the sacred and the profane, containing elements of Baroque virtuosity. Andrzej Grygier is one of the most outstanding classical guitarists of his generation, a laureate of prestigious guitar competitions worldwide, and this album confirms his virtuosic skill and musical sensitivity.

Saxophone Varie, Vol. 2

This album features a unique recording of Die sch�ne M�llerin (The Beautiful Maid of the Mill), one that stands apart from most interpretations. It is the first performance of this song cycle in Poland-and one of the first worldwide-by a countertenor, accompanied by a historical piano. The high register of the countertenor amplifies the sense of innocence and the intensity of the protagonist's emotions-a young miller tragically in love. Written by the 26-year-old Franz Schubert, Die sch�ne M�llerin is now regarded as one of the pinnacles of the Romantic lieder tradition. The music is not merely an accompaniment to the text, but a complete entity in itself, responding to the subtlest shifts in the character's emotions while masterfully painting the backdrop for the unfolding drama. Although the love story does not have a happy ending, the overall tone of the work remains surprisingly light-hearted, perhaps reflecting the bittersweet nature of the narrative. It is in this delicate balance that the secret to the enduring popularity of Die sch�ne M�llerin lies. The cycle offers a brief escape, allowing listeners and performers alike to immerse themselves in a world that no longer exists, yet still moves the imagination with equal power.

This album captures the live premiere of a concert performance of the opera, marking it's first-ever recording. The work is based on the libretto of the 18th-century poet and monk, Pietro Metastasio. Azione sacra is a genre closely related to oratorio, but with a distinct emphasis on drama-this is not a static, contemplative work, but rather a mini-opera in two acts. The composer, Lukaszewski, draws partially from a Polish translation while also returning to the original text. He describes Joasza as a sacra rappresentazione, making it the second such work in his compositional legacy. Musically, Lukaszewski stays true to his own distinctive style, which is rooted in tonality and features a rich, varied texture-from intimate recitatives to powerful, dynamic choral segments. The work's intricate structure allows listeners to follow the plot through memorable musical motifs assigned to different characters and storylines. The choir plays a pivotal role, commenting on the action, while instrumental intermezzos add depth and emotional nuance. The recording features a stellar lineup of soloists, whose voices blend seamlessly with the dramatic intensity of the piece, creating an unforgettable listening experience.

Contemporary folklore inspirations - Lodz Philharmonic Choir and it's guests on a new DUX album The album refers to the long tradition of folklore in Polish classical music. It is continued by the creators of the arrangements of folk melodies dedicated to the Lodz Philharmonic Choir. The album refers to the long tradition of folklore in Polish classical music. It is continued by the creators of the arrangements of folk melodies dedicated to the Lodz Philharmonic Choir and featured on the album. The arrangements vary - from those closer to popular music, through sounds typical of national folk song and dance ensembles, to those representing a classical approach, with rich harmonies and inconspicuous folk motifs. The abundant number of performers is noteworthy - in addition to the excellent choir with a typically classical sound, the recording also features traditional singing, a string quartet in jazz and folk aesthetics and vocals typical of popular music. Each of the composers is inspired by folklore in a slightly different way, which makes the compositions sound fresh and intriguing. The performers are artists with comprehensive experience, which is reflected in the creative approach they adopt to interpret both well-known and lesser-known traditional Polish melodies.