A loving tribute to a father from his son - It has always been Andrej Szpilman s dream to have his father s songs published in the western world. As the executive producer of this cd, he has fulfilled that dream. Some of his father s songs recorded for the cd were composed during his times in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1941. Wendy Lands lovingly sings these songs with a beautiful heart-wrenching voice.
Hunt down the originals - happened to be living in Poland at the time of the release of Polanski s film The Pianist , and Polish Radio issued a commemorative boxed-set of archive recordings of Szpilman as pianist and composer. Unfortunately, this set does not seem to have been released outside Poland (though some of the piano tracks have been issued separately by Sony). One of the discs is devoted to some 25 of Szpilman s Piosenki (chansons, popular songs) in archive recordings from the 50s, 60, and 70s of (predominantly) the composer s own arrangements - typically for sumptious dance orchestra or big band, and featuring some of Poland s most popular singers (unknown of course in The West ). Only when one hears these songs with their original Polish texts (whether one understands them or not), harmonised, arranged and sung in a style that bears the authenticity of their own time, can one appreciate the (no doubt well-intentioned) folly and inadequacy of this Wendy Lands collection. These new English texts are not translations, so the words have been artificially grafted onto a melody that has been crafted to set and convey text with quite another meaning. Of course the quality of Szpilman s material ensures that the new songs based on his melodies are perfectly respectable as atmospheric bluesy-jazzy numbers, but I can t help wishing that some executive had had the courage to release an album of the songs in their original language and colours... They are incomparably more atmospheric, haunting, charming, melancholy and elegant than the versions presented on this new disc. Any lover of Edith Piaf or Jaques Brel, for example, would fall for them immediately - the inpenetrability of the language only adds to their charm, and is far more meaningful than the second-rate doggerel shoe-horned to the melodies here. I hope these Polish recordings will become generally available soon - if not, you ll have to make friends with a Pole, get a cheap flight to Warsaw, or petition Polish Radio! It really is worth it - the old recordings are charming and heartbreaking.
Huge Disappointment - After enjoying the autobiography and the movie, my family s expectations for this recording of Szpilman s songs were extremely high. From all angles, these hopes were crushed. The songs were probably - after their composition - given their first performance in a nightclub and that later exposure over Polish radio would hve retained the European night club feeling. The arrangements were far off the mark , both in their choice of instrumentation and in their composition. As for Miss Land, her voice is better described as dreary and monotonous rather than dark and smoky as some have described it. To put it blunt.ly, she has no voice only breathy sighs.I suggest that Andrzej Szpilman, Wladyslav son, have another go at this project. During my Foreign Service career I have spent many months in Warsaw 1960-1962 and many hours at the Congresova and other night clubs. It shouldn t be too hard to persuade some Polish musicians to cooperate in a project to re-create Wladyslav s songs imbued with their original charm and spirit.Finally, I wonder if the English lyrics followed the original Polish or were completely different.
Who is this woman!?! - What a beautiful voice, what sensitive, expressive delivery. I bought this album on a whim and I am blown away by the whole ensenble of fine musicians - but especially by Wendy Lands. The recording quality is clean and crisp, the songs evocative, intelligent, and melodic.The last album that similarly impressed me was Norah Jones.Then to realize that these melodies were written by Wladislaw Szpilman (the subject of Roman Polaski s The Pianist) just adds to the wonderment of this beautiful album.Please, more Wendy Lands! Bravo!!!
Truly Sublime! - I was suprised to learn that Wladyslaw Szpilman wrote contemporary songs. I was aware that he wrote compositions, but it never entered my mind that he wrote such beautiful songs that are on this CD. After seeing The Pianist and reading Spzilman s book and then seeing the DVD with an added documentary on the making of The Pianist, my curiosity was piqued. Andrej Spzilman, the son of Wladyslaw, long dreamt of introducing his father s songs to the west and he chose Wendy Lands to sing these hauntingly beautiful songs. Upon purchasing this CD, I was hesitant that I might find them too much in the vein of Easy Listening . I am glad to say that was not the case. I played it three times and should Wendy Lands continue to sing the songs of Wladyslaw Spzilman, I would be grateful. This is a very beautiful album and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Wladyslaw Spzilman did not merely survive the most grim conditions of The Holocaust, he thrived through his love of music and this album is proof of what a genius he was. I look forward to a second CD of his songs sung by Ms. Lands. Her heartrending interpretations draw the listener in. This is a truly sublime album!