'Classical music' and 'greatest hits' are two phrases that rarely mix well. And yet, that's effectively what Matrix 5 is - a Penderecki greatest hits set, covering work from the first, more atonal half of his career. "Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima", by far his most famous piece, is included, and it's a doozy - easily among the greatest symphonic works of the 20th century. It does stand out, but the rest, particularly "Anaklasis" and "The Dream of Jacob", is fascinating - the blend of timbres, tonalities, and instrumentation makes this both a great gateway album for anybody unfamiliar with avant-garde music, and an album that you'll return to time and again for inspiration and enjoyment.
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