Early Vytautas Bacevicius Appealing

Naxos completes their cycle of Vytautas Bacevičius piano concertos -- after a nine-year hiatus. Volume one was released in 2015 and featured his last two concertos. 

In the 1940s, Bacevicius moved to atonality. The works featured in volume one have a very different character than the compositions here.

The first two piano concertos and Symphony No. 3 are all very much tonal works. Bacevicius was proud of his Lithuanian heritage. 

When his parents separated, he went with his father back to Lithuania and reverted to the Lithuanian version of the family name. His sister, Grazia Backewicz, remained in Poland with her mother and kept the Polish version of her surname.

Bacevicius wasn't able to remain in Lithuania long. He was on tour in South America when Russia invaded. He eventually made his way to the United States, never to return to his occupied homeland.

The 1929 Piano Concerto No. 1 is subtitled "Sur des thèmes lituaniens." It's a celebratory work, with Lithuanian themes serving as the building blocks. 

The Second Piano Concerto of 1933 also draws extensively on Lithuanian folk music. But here the original tunes are fully integrated into the work. So much so they almost disappear -- but still leave a trace of their character.

Bacevicius' Symphony No. 3 was written after he was granted sanctuary in America. It ends with a treatment of the "Star Spangled Banner." Bacevicius doesn't just quote the tune -- he works with it to fit into the rest of the symphony. And almost succeeds. 

The Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra is directed by Christopher Lyndon-Gee. These are strong, committed performances. Very little of Bacevicius' music was performed during his lifetime. The Second Piano Concerto and Third Symphony receive their world recording premiere. 

The ensemble has a fundamental understanding of what Bacevicius was about -- and it shows in their performances. Pianist Gabrielius Alekna is exceptional. Bacevicius was a world-class pianist. He demands a lot from the soloist and Alekna delivers time and again. 

I suspect many will find this volume more appealing and accessible than the previous one. I recommend both. But I'd start with this one.

Vytautas Bacevicius: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
Piano Concerto No. 1 ‘Sur des thèmes lituaniens’
Piano Concerto No. 2; Symphony No. 3
Gabrielius Alekna, Piano
Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra; Christopher Lyndon-Gee
Naxos