I mentioned Szymanowski in my comments from last month's clip, and in doing so I was reminded that he's only been a CCM one time, and that was 14 years ago. It's time for a revisit, I think.

Szymanowski's beautiful suite, Masques from 1915-16 is in a similar vein to his earlier Mythes (violin and piano) and Métopes. The three movements are each highly evocative and original. The first in the set (though written last) follows in the age-old tradition of Schéhérazade-inspired settings. Though Rimsky-Korsakov's is the most famous setting, and Ravel has two interesting settings (the famous and gorgeous song cycle, and the much-lesser-known early overture), I think Szymanowski's setting deserves to be better known. Here is just the beginning, before the work really gets very energetic, just to whet your appetite.