Steve Schwartz wrote:

>Tim Dickinson:
>
>>I keep seeing people rave about Lutoslawski...My only exposure to his
>>music was an old Vox LP with the Holligers playing on the Double Concerto
>>for Harp and Oboe with Michael Giellen conducting.  Unfortunately, this
>>piece didn't motivate me to search down more Lutoslawski.  Was it perhaps
>>not a logical starting point for this composer?
>
>I would try the Concerto for Orchestra or the short Variations on a Theme by
>Paganini for 2 pianos.  Not the Lutoslawski most people think of, but two
>very attractive works nevertheless.

Second the motion, and strongly suggest the Cleveland/Dohnanyi recording
of Concerto for Orchestra, coupled with Bartok's, if still available.

The Dance Preludes are very entertaining, but there is a similar sort of
break between these ingratiating works and that which f0llows as there is
in Stravinsky, perhaps, between the Russian-influenced works, through Les
Noces, say, and that which follows, or from the post-Romantic Schoenberg
and his next stylistic plateau.

Still, it's wonderful music.

Joel