Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, dedicated to Isaac Stern, was composed in 1976-77 for the commission of the Music Society in Basel to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its existance. At first Penderecki intended to write a composition in several movements but during the work, the first movement grew to such dimensions (nearly 40 minutes) that the composer gave up writing the next ones.
The Symphony No 2 was written in 1979-80 having been commissioned by Zubin Mehta for the New York Philharmonic Orchestra of which the latter was artistic director. The process of writing it was very slow, then came the turning point in it composition at Christmas 1979. Recorded in Katowice in May of 1981.
