One of the few available recordings of contemporary Polish operas. This one-act chamber opera Odprawa posłów greckich is one of Witold Rudziński’s most frequently performed and the most critically acclaimed one (1st special distinction in the Duke Rainier III Competition in Monte Carlo); it is also his favourite. As a composer, but primarily as a Slavic philologist, Rudziński was always fascinated by Kochanowski’s tragedy - its ancient subject (an episode of the Trojan War) presented from the Renaissance Polish point of view. The composer emphasised with his music the dramatic power of Kochanowski’s play and the beauty of the old Polish language. The simple melodies, at times merging into melo-recitation of the text, are supplemented by a rich orchestral part which takes advantage of the entire spectrum of modern musical means (including the aleatory technique). The specific distinct character of the piece is underlined by the colourful metallic chords of percussion and brass.
This opera is complemented on the CD by one of Rudziński’s later compositions - the sonoristic Variations and Fugue for solo percussion, performed by the outstanding Hubert Rutkowski.