Ivan Monighetti (cello)
Arto Noras (cello)
Rafal Kwiatkowski (cello)
Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra, Antoni Wit


Best known for his choral and symphonic works, Krzysztof Penderecki has also written many fascinating concertante pieces.

His Concerto Grosso No. 1 makes full use of the potential for interplay between three solo cellos and orchestra. The Largo for Cello and Orchestra, actually a fully-fledged concerto, was composed for Mstislav Rostropovich.

These works contrast with the virtuoso Sonata for Cello and Orchestra, an ironic, even playful piece unconventionally scored for a large orchestra which includes two bongos, three wood blocks, whip, claves, guiro and tam-tam.

On a recent Penderecki collaboration (8.557980) Gramophone praised the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra for its “dedicated performances” and lauded Wit for bringing “maximum animation to the musical processes.”

“A phenomenal cellist, one of the best I’ve ever heard.” Krzysztof Penderecki on Ivan Monighetti