This magnificent new recording completes a strong symphonic portrait of the Polish modernist master…The Third Symphony comes first here in a coruscating performance. Hannu Lintu conducts with lucidity and rigour in a work exploring Beethovenian notions of tension and release. His musicians respond with brilliant, punchy playing but are also capable of dazzling refinement…Altogether, Lintu’s Lutosławski cycle sets a new standard.

[Symphony No. 2] Here Lintu and his Finnish musicians exceed all expectations: They bring more character to it than Gardner with his tightly disciplined forces, and are miles ahead of the drab-sounding version by the composer himself, conducting the Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra on an elderly EMI recording. In sum, this is a thoroughly successful and recommendable disc.

Splendid performances of these now well-established symphonies.

Aleatory freedoms are crucial for both works; and the stabbing four-note unison launching and articulating No 3 never ceases to astonish.