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Anne-Sophie Mutter pays tribute to Krzysztof Penderecki / theStrad

The violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter has paid tribute to the Polish conductor and composer Krzysztof Penderecki - a longtime friend and musical collaborator who dedicated numerous works to her - whose death at the age of 86 was announced yesterday. 

Penderecki first heard Mutter perform as a twelve-year-old, in Beethoven's Violin Concerto with Karajan, and followed her career thereafter. Mutter went on to premiere and record a number of his works for violin over 25 years, among them La Follia variations for solo violin, Duo concertante for violin and double bass, Violin Sonata no.2 and Violin Concerto no.2 ‘Metamorphosen', which Penderecki wrote for her.

These recordings were brought together on a Deutsche Grammophon two-disc set, Hommage à Penderecki, compiled for the composer's 85th birthday. Penderecki himself conducted the London Symphony Orchestra in the concerto, and Mutter described her deep affinity with ‘Metamorphosen' in Sentimental Work, published in The Strad August 2018.   Photo Bartek Barczyk / DG

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