Tansman - Symphonies Volume 4 Chandos CHAN 10574 A welcome release of smaller symphonic music by Alexandre Tansman (1897-1986), long under a cloud after doctrinaire serialism made his light treatment of neo-classical idiom go out of fashion. These works have more in common with each other than contrast, despite their compositions spanning half a century (1924-1978) and the vicissitudes of his difficult life, as a Polish Jew living in Paris during the War, forced to seek refuge in California, finally rediscovered by Polish Radio (Sinfonietta No 2, 1978 - Czajowski "the only Polish conductor who knows that I exist (or existed)". This disc is of unquestionable historical interest and entertainment value too. Peter Grahame Woolf |