Hagen

In 1962, Witold Lutosławski was invited to Hagen by the leader of the local orchestra, Berthold Lehmann, a great enthusiast of contemporary music. The guest was to deliver a brief introduction before a performance of Jeux vénitiens at a concert for students. Soon afterwards, Lehman proposed that Lutosławski compose a work for his orchestra, and thus arose the Livre pour orchestra. Highly characteristic of the sound of Lutosławski’s music, the Livre shimmers with manifold delicate hues, obtained from various combinations of the sounds of harp, piano, celesta, vibraphone, hand bells and tubular bells. It was performed in November 1968, as part of the Hagener Musiktage – a festival established four years previously. The Hagen City Orchestra was conducted by Berthold Lehmann, to whom the work was dedicated.