The SWR Vokalensemble is one of the world’s leading choirs. This is the latest instalment in our ongoing series of choral works from different countries. Previous releases include America (CD 93.306), Russia (CD 93.317), Italy (CD 93.329) and Great Britain (CD 93.342). The recording includes rarely performed works by Szymanowski, Gorecki, Haubenstock-Ramati and Lutoslawski – four of Poland's most renowned composers.

Considering Poland’s turbulent political history, it is surprising that the country has produced so many outstanding composers, particularly those of the 20th century. Following the Second World War and Stalin’s death, the creativity that had previously been suppressed by the country's regime exploded at the 1956 music festival “Warsaw Autumn”, revealing Poland's tremendous musical potential to a global audience that was astonished by what it heard.

Thematically, this collection of great Polish choral works turns between religion, war and Polish folk culture. The wide range and compositional depth of the pieces are simply spectacular. The SWR Vokalensemble presents them throughout with its customary exceptional precision and powerful expressivity.