Penderecki’s Symphony no.6 ‘Chinese Songs’ is an intimate, chamber-scale work for bass-baritone and orchestra. It sets eight Chinese poems in German adaptations linked with interludes for the two-stringed erhu. It proved to be Penderecki’s last completed symphony and is imbued with great pathos as well as melodic beauty. The Trumpet Concertino is taut, spirited and full of dextrous interplay between the soloist and orchestra. His single-movement Concerto doppio for violin, cello and orchestra, is a work of keen unpredictability.

Conductor Antoni Wit is a major presence in the Naxos catalogue and a performer who is admired worldwide: ‘Wit and the Warsaw Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra provide letter-perfect renditions that also fully capture the spirit as well’ (Fanfare on 8573062). Wit has also recorded the Magnificat (8572697): ‘The ever-imperturbable Antoni Wit is in his element throughout, sustaining the tension in the quieter early stages and delivering maximum impact later on’ (Gramophone).

The Norrköping Symphony Orchestra is billed as one of the most exciting orchestras in Scandinavia. For Naxos, the orchestra has recorded works by Alfvén (8557612 and 8557828) and operas by Hallström (822521415 and 855532223).

Polish Bass-baritone Jarosław Bręk (1977–2023) graduated with the highest honours from the Music Academy in Warsaw, and was a prize-winner of several vocal competitions, including in Barcelona, Vercelli and Lisbon, and was a regular soloist in opera houses in Poland. He can be heard on other Naxos recordings of works by Penderecki (8573062 and 8570450) and Szymanowski (8570742).