For almost 130 years, the output of Ignacy Jan Paderewski has been identified with the composer’s great love for his homeland and patriotism resulting from it.

Paderewski demonstrated an interest in both composition and virtuoso activity at an early stage of his artistic education andi would also express his deep patriotic commitment through composing.

The Symphony in B minor, op.24 ‘Polonia’, recorded on this album, is undoubtedly to be considered the pinnacle achievement of the artist, directly related to the fate of Poland and the idea of striving for its independence. Paderewski, wanting to spectacularly commemorate the 40th anniversary of the outbreak of the January Uprising, decided to compose a monumental work being a tribute to the heroism of the insurgents; another motivation was to illustrate the difficult situation of the Polish nation.