The oboist here, French and very young (he was born in 1971), possesses an excellent technique and is a deeply sensitive artist. Both qualities quickly become evident in the flowing, quietly poignant opening melody of Poulenc’s Sonata, where his tone is not only beautiful but also admirably responsive to the subtle dynamic shading and rhythmic flexibility. Yet this is far from the whole story: and the grotesquerie of the passage starting at 2'16'' shows that there is more to his playing than gentleness – as does the mercurial Scherzo, delivered with delightful point and relish. The final Deploration of this sonata, as played here, is infinitely moving and nothing less than superb. Fortunately Leleux and his pianist partner, who is equally attuned to Poulenc’s world, have been extremely well recorded. This performance and that of the bouncy Trio both give keen pleasure.
So does the playing of the Britten pieces, three of them early (the characterful Six Metamorphoses being the exception) and edgy. Performed as vividly as this, they are undoubtedly worth having yet remain only patchily convincing, and no advocacy that the Temporal Variations of 1936 have received since their posthumous appearance in 1980 alters my understanding of the composer’s reluctance to publish them.
The booklet with this issue has notes on the oboist in French, English and German and photos of all six artists, plus an account of the sponsors and a list of other titles in this Nouveaux Interpretes series, but gives no information on the music beyond titles and timings; this is not good enough, particularly when works are relatively unfamiliar. Otherwise I have only praise for a fine, generously filled disc, recommended even if you already have some of the music. Not surprisingly, there is no obvious comparison in view of the unusual coupling of Poulenc and Britten. Yet the pairing of these composers is apt, for they were friends and their musical high spirits – frequent in the Parisian, less so in the uneasy East Anglian – often have a darker side.'