Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, "Elegiac"
Symphony No. 1 in A major

Another woefully overlooked composer, Zygmunt Noskowski (1846-1909), finally benefits from a bit more exposure thanks to the people at Capriccio. It seems the only other available recordings of some of his orchestral works are on the Swedish Sterling label. And yet when you listen to his music, you can't help but notice that all of the elemental characteristics of late 19th century orchestral music are present. The intense seriousness of Brahms, the romantic idealism of Schumann, as well as the folk-influenced melodic writing of Dvorák. And within its overall sunny disposition, it even points to some of Bruckner's more lighthearted scherzo movements.

Zygmunt Noskowski was born in Warsaw where he studied violin and composition at the Warsaw Conservatory. He lived in Berlin for a short period of time where he furthered his musical education and returned to Warsaw to become a journalist, teacher and conductor, in which role he championed the music of forgotten Polish composers. He taught many of the up-and-coming Polish composers, including Karol Szymanowski. During his formative years he was a teacher in a school for the blind where he created a special music notation system for the blind. His output consists of orchestral works, operas, chamber music, as well as instrumental and vocal pieces.

There's a heartwarming ease and charm to the inner slow movements of these symphonies, as well as dramatic and rhythmic fervor to the outer movements. All aspects that Polish conductor Antoni Wit brings to the forefront. The members of the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz perform this music with enthusiasm and the same attention to expressive details they would apply to any and all repertoire standbys and warhorses. Makes you wonder why Zygmunt Noskowski's name doesn't come up to the surface more often.