Polish music has flowered in the later twentieth century, with the emergence of artists of international stature. Yet the four Poles whose story is told here - Andrzej Panufnik (1914-91), Witold Lutoslawski (1913-94), Krzystof Penderecki (b.1933) and Henryk Górecki (b.1933) - are noted for their development of radically differing creative approaches, in spite of common national origins.

Against the background of artistic experience and political regimes by which all were affected, their works are illuminated through an in-depth account of their lives and careers, which have so powerfully contributed to the phenomenon of rebirth in modern Polish music.