In its July issue, the classical music magazine says Bacewicz, who died in 1969 at the age of 60, is experiencing a renaissance after decades of relative neglect.
"Bacewicz’s music is becoming a feature of the world’s most distinguished concert halls while a steady stream is being made available via new recordings," Gramophone writes, citing "brand-new symphony cycles from the BBC and WDR Symphony Orchestras and an award-winning account of her string quartets from the Silesian Quartet."
“It is rare to come across a neglected compositional voice that remains so strong; that speaks to both its own turbulent time and ours," the magazine adds.
Looking beyond Bacewicz, Gramophone argues that Poland has a long tradition of influential women musicians and composers whose contributions have often been overlooked.
It points to "two remarkable figures: Wanda Landowska (1879-1959), an outstanding harpsichordist, and Maria Szymanowska (1789-1831), one of the first female pianists to achieve significant international renown – a charismatic performer and an equally striking composer of piano works and songs in the brillant style."
The magazine says Bacewicz's achievements were built on foundations laid by these earlier musicians and highlights several contemporary Polish composers who have continued that tradition, including Elżbieta Sikora, Marta Ptaszyńska, Hanna Kulenty and Agata Zubel.
According to Gramophone, the music of these composers "speaks to us now, as present as ever, with absorbing power and honesty" and demonstrates that "in a country as musically rich as Poland, there are always more absorbing works to discover."
(mk/gs)