Mieczyslaw Karlowicz (1876-1909)

[Brian]

I think the suggestion might hint at suicide, not murder.

Ah, that he intentionally took a dangerous path, or went where he knew there was risk? Did he have a history of mental troubles?

You can tell I'm a murder mystery aficionado - that's always where my mind jumps.   

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

After this, I think I'll listen to the astonishing tone poem "Episode at a Masquerade."




Episode at a Masquerade, in a performance of opulence and splendor. I'd forgotten what a superb symphonic poem this is, a fascinating descent into sorrow.

One of my favourite Karlowicz works, too. The schizophrenic contrast between the passages of heartrending melancholy and those of boisterous partying is very effective (and affecting).

[Mirror Image]

Copy and paste from my posts in the listening thread:




This is an absolutely stupendous new disc. Ilya Kaler sells the concerto's solo part like it's a concert-hall warhorse, and the Warsaw Philharmonic and Antoni Wit are on top form. The serenade for strings is a charmer which anyone who likes the serenades of Suk, Dvorak, or Tchaikovsky ought to love. This volume just makes me wonder why one of the earlier Karlowicz volumes was recorded with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, in that orchestra's acoustically inferior concert hall. Naxos' recordings from Warsaw over the last few years have depicted, with great flattery, what is quite clearly one of the great orchestras of the world. After this, I think I'll listen to the astonishing tone poem "Episode at a Masquerade."




Episode at a Masquerade, in a performance of opulence and splendor. I'd forgotten what a superb symphonic poem this is, a fascinating descent into sorrow.

I own all of Wit's Karlowicz recordings on Naxos so far, so I look forward to hearing this new one. His music has very Straussian feel to it, but it's so damn fun to listen to.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I own all of Wit's Karlowicz recordings on Naxos so far, so I look forward to hearing this new one. His music has very Straussian feel to it, but it's so damn fun to listen to.

Only Stanislaw & Anna Oswiecim sound a bit Straussian, to these ears (orchestration-wise). For the rest I can detect the influence of Tchaikovsky and Bruckner. But Karlowicz is his own man, a fascinating Polish brother of Delius, Sibelius, Mahler, Scriabin, Elgar and Magnard, to name the composers he has affinities with.

[Maciek]

I think the suggestion might hint at suicide, not murder.

Ah, that he intentionally took a dangerous path, or went where he knew there was risk? Did he have a history of mental troubles?

You can tell I'm a murder mystery aficionado - that's always where my mind jumps.   

Can't leave that suggestion lingering any longer. 0:)

Apparently, gossip that Karłowicz committed suicide appeared soon after his death. True, his work was not exactly permeated with optimism. His last completed composition, A Sorrowful/Sad Tale: Preludes to Eternity, was a musical depiction of the workings of the mind of a suicide.

Nonetheless, it is absolutely certain that Karłowicz did not commit suicide. Karłowicz had a very strong sense of responsibility towards his mother, who was a widow and his dependant. He did not foresee that she would survive him, and therefore completely left her out of his will (after his death, she became destitute). Besides, as a composer, he had at that time become very highly regarded in Poland, and his two last Warsaw concerts (April 1908 and January 1909) were both great successes. As for his artistic interest in pessimistic subjects, it was very much of its time (as was his oeuvre, generally).

The route he took on that fatal day clearly showed that he was being extremely careful to keep away from any danger: he would go the roundabout way wherever there was the slightest chance of an avalanche coming down. In fact, people who talked to him the day before related that because of high avalanche risk he had changed his plans and would not go higher into the mountains, but would keep to the safer lower regions instead. The tragic irony being that he accompanied this explanation by a short lecture on how avalanches are formed and how to best avoid them. The area where he died had mountain pine growing here and there - which under normal circumstances precludes the possibility of an avalanche - so there was nothing reckless about his taking that route.

Not sure if everyone was aware of this, but Karłowicz was an experienced mountain climber and a pioneer of mountain photography. He went out on his fatal last excursion to try out a new camera that he had bought some time earlier. Below is the last picture he ever took (taken from this site), shortly (minutes? hours?) before his tragic death.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Thanks, Maciek! But very very sad, too.

[Lethevich]

Another thanks - a poignant photograph.

[madaboutmahler]

I find Karlowicz's music to be absolutely beautiful, especially pieces such as "A Sorrowful Tale". And I am looking for a recording of this piece in particular, so could you suggest to me which recording I should buy? Wit or Noseda? Or the box set of Karlowicz tone poems from Salwarowski?

I wish that Karlowicz could be better known and respected today, maybe if he had lived longer he may have been!

Enjoyed reading your interesting comments,

Best Wishes!

[Maciek]

Well, if memory doesn't fail me, I really enjoyed the Salwarowski set best. Sorry for being rather vague, but I really don't remember enough to say anything more than that (haven't listened to any of those three recordings in quite a while). Perhaps someone else will have some fresh(er) memories to share (no obligation to agree with me in choice of favorite version, of course).

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Well, if memory doesn't fail me, I really enjoyed the Salwarowski set best. Sorry for being rather vague, but I really don't remember enough to say anything more than that (haven't listened to any of those three recordings in quite a while). Perhaps someone else will have some fresh(er) memories to share (no obligation to agree with me in choice of favorite version, of course).

Hi, Maciek! You know I find Salwarowski the best set, too. He was, afaik, the first to record the whole cycle, and he brings a freshness and rawness to his readings that is gripping. The ones by Wit on Naxos are good, too, but Salwarowski is something special.


Perhaps it is nice to remember I became a member here in July 2007 because of your upload of Karlowicz's Violin Concerto...

[Maciek]

 

[madaboutmahler]

Well, if memory doesn't fail me, I really enjoyed the Salwarowski set best. Sorry for being rather vague, but I really don't remember enough to say anything more than that (haven't listened to any of those three recordings in quite a while). Perhaps someone else will have some fresh(er) memories to share (no obligation to agree with me in choice of favorite version, of course).

As both of you recommend the Salwarowski, I shall probably get this set then! Thank you both!

[Maciek]

Well, the more I think about it the less sure I am. I should be ashamed of myself for even beginning to speak about recordings I haven't heard in years. Please disregard anything I've said on the subject so far.

But I'm positive Johan knows what he's saying, even when I don't.

OK, this I'm sure of: the Salwarowski set gives you all the poems played by the same performers (whereas Wit recorded them with 2 different orchestras). That's a plus. But you weren't asking about the whole set so that information might be worthless... And what about Noseda?

See. I really don't know what I'm talking about. The Salwarowski set I did like, that I'm sure of as well. But that's about the most definitive I can get at the moment.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Well, the more I think about it the less sure I am. I should be ashamed of myself for even beginning to speak about recordings I haven't heard in years. Please disregard anything I've said on the subject so far.

But I'm positive Johan knows what he's saying, even when I don't.

See. I really don't know what I'm talking about. The Salwarowski set I did like, that I'm sure of as well. But that's about the most definitive I can get at the moment.

To refresh your memory, dear Maciek. From an email to me, dated 11 November 2008:


Speaking of superb - the Salwarowski Karlowicz is, IMO, just that. I'm glad you still like him. I don't think any of the alternative performances are better - though we have to wait for the Wit.

[madaboutmahler]

To refresh your memory, dear Maciek. From an email to me, dated 11 November 2008:

Speaking of superb - the Salwarowski Karlowicz is, IMO, just that. I'm glad you still like him. I don't think any of the alternative performances are better - though we have to wait for the Wit.

So you were thinking correctly Maciek! The Noseda is also really wonderful as well as you say, but maybe not as passionate!

Daniel

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

So you were thinking correctly Maciek! The Noseda is also really wonderful as well as you say, but maybe not as passionate!

Mostly, yes. But - in the Stanislaw and Anna there is a crucial pause before an outburst which he really makes far too long. All momentum and emotion are lost, because the conductor is keeping us waiting. Compare Noseda and Salwarowski, and see if you agree (when you have the time).

[Maciek]

Ha, ha, ha! Who needs a secretary!

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Ha, ha, ha! Who needs a secretary!

You have found your Eckermann or Boswell, dear Dr Goethe.

[Lilas Pastia]

I lent my cousin the Salwarowski set last week. He's looking for good unknown composers to discover. I've had it for some 18 months now but still haven't listened to it  . So far Wit and esp. Fitelberg have kept me satisfied. Karlowicz is definitely a good composer, on a level with Enesco, Suk and Kodaly.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I lent my cousin the Salwarowski set last week. He's looking for good unknown composers to discover. I've had it for some 18 months now but still haven't listened to it  . So far Wit and esp. Fitelberg have kept me satisfied. Karlowicz is definitely a good composer, on a level with Enesco, Suk and Kodaly.

Fitelberg is very good (raw, intense), but as far as I know he didn't do a whole cycle. If he did, i don't have it...