Boston

Witold Lutosławski first travelled to the United States in 1962, to an invitation from Tanglewood, situated about two hours from Boston. So it was his first opportunity to see the city and to listen to its famous orchestra. The music lovers of Boston, meanwhile, had their first chance to acquaint themselves with his music during the mid sixties, in a rather unusual order: first the avant-garde Jeux vénitiens (1965) and only later the traditional Concerto for Orchestra (1967).

Many years later, in October 1990, Lutosławski stood before the Boston orchestra himself to conduct four concerts. The programme of the first soirée featured Chain II and the Livre pour orchestra, then after the interval the Piano Concerto was performed. Most of the audience did not hear it, however, having left the hall during the break. As a result, the Boston orchestra only found the courage to programme his music again in January 2014, choosing the same Piano Concerto.