Stefan Kisielewski (1911-1991), Konstanty Régamey (1907-1982) and Roman Palester (1907-1989) belonged to one generation of composers. In addition to music, all three had an excellent wield of the pen and all loved Paris, where they had spent considerable time before the war pursuing a more thorough education. They are among the most important Polish Parisian musical émigrés of the 20th century. They expressed a deep love of freedom with their attitude. For each of them, the idea of freedom, equality and brotherhood meant at the same time a profound disagreement with the Soviet oppression of Poland after 1945. Their free, independent voice can also be heard in their music.
The three string quartets recorded by the Meccore String Quartet share a neoclassical trait. In each of the quartets, however, this feature acquires a different, individual face. Lightness of melodic invention, original harmonics, fluent narration as well as transparent texture and clear formal structure - these are the features which best reflect the character of Kisielewski's youthful String Quartet. Palester's one-movement String Quartet No. 2, characterised by dense polyphonic textures, supple melodic lines of nostalgic expression and emotional intensity, ranks as one of the most outstanding works of this genre in 20th-century Polish music. Régamey's Quatuor à cordes, on the other hand, is thoroughly modern music, full of solemnity, objective in expression and extremely focused.
The Meccore String Quartet's interpretations of works by Kisielewski, Palester and Régamey have received numerous awards (including a nomination for the Coryphaeus of Polish Music). The album Paris Polonais (recorded by Katarzyna Rakowiecka-Rojsza) is therefore a guarantee of great music in an excellent performance.
