'Poland Abroad' – the motto of EDA’s series dedicated to the many unknown treasures of Polish music from the 20th century – resulted from the observation that Polish musical history developed to a great extent in exile. It was above all for political reasons that Poland’s cultural elite were compelled to go abroad before the recovery of national sovereignty in 1918.

In the 1920s the cultural meccas of Berlin and Paris attracted talent and presented opportunities for artistic development. After Hitler’s seizure of power and the persecution of Europe’s Jewish population many artists took refuge in America. Fitelberg, Kassern and Spisak, major representatives of the ‘Parisian school' of Polish neo-classicism, strongly influenced by Stravinsky and the aesthetics of Nadia Boulanger, enjoy recognition appropriate to their importance neither in concert life nor on the market for recorded music.

Three key works of their oeuvres are represented here in world premiere recordings.