Poulenc Mélodies & Songs
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Francis Poulenc
Label: Poulenc Edition
Magazine Review Date: 1/1999
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 333
Mastering:
Stereo
DDD
Mono
ADD
Catalogue Number: 566849-2
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| Rapsodie nègre |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer Georges Prêtre, Conductor Jean-Christoph Benoit, Baritone Maryse Charpentier, Piano Paris Conservatoire Soloists |
| (Le) Bestiaire ou Cortège d'Orphée, 'Book of B |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer Georges Prêtre, Conductor Jean-Christoph Benoit, Baritone Maryse Charpentier, Piano Paris Conservatoire Soloists |
| (Le) Bestiaire ou Cortège d'Orphée, 'Book of B, Movement: La Colombe |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Emmanuel Strosser, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer Nicolas Rivenq, Baritone |
| (Le) Bestiaire ou Cortège d'Orphée, 'Book of B, Movement: Le Serpent |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Emmanuel Strosser, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer Nicolas Rivenq, Baritone |
| (Le) Bestiaire ou Cortège d'Orphée, 'Book of B, Movement: La Puce |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Emmanuel Strosser, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer Nicolas Rivenq, Baritone |
| Cocardes |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer François Boulanger, Conductor Garde Républicaine Soloists Ensemble Jean-Paul Fouchécourt, Tenor |
| (4) Poèmes de Max Jacob |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer François Boulanger, Conductor Garde Républicaine Soloists Ensemble Jean-Paul Fouchécourt, Tenor |
| (5) Poèmes de Ronsard |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer François Le Roux, Baritone John Nelson, Conductor Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra |
| Chansons gaillardes |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer Jean-Philippe Collard, Piano José Van Dam, Bass-baritone |
| Airs chantés |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer Geoffrey Parsons, Piano Rita Streich, Soprano |
| Epitaphe |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Dalton Baldwin, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer Gérard Souzay, Baritone |
| (3) Poèmes de Louise Lalanne |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Dalton Baldwin, Piano Elly Ameling, Soprano Francis Poulenc, Composer |
| (4) Poèmes |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Dalton Baldwin, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer Gérard Souzay, Baritone |
| (5) Poèmes |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Dalton Baldwin, Piano Elly Ameling, Soprano Francis Poulenc, Composer |
| (8) Chansons polonaises |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Dalton Baldwin, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer Nicolai Gedda, Tenor |
| À sa guitare |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer Gabriel Tacchino, Piano Mady Mesplé, Soprano |
| Tel jour, telle nuit |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer Francis Poulenc, Piano Pierre Bernac, Baritone |
| (3) Poèmes de Louise de Vilmorin |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer Jacques Février, Piano Liliane Berton, Soprano |
| (2) Poèmes |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Dalton Baldwin, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer Michel Sénéchal, Tenor |
| Miroirs brûlants |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Dalton Baldwin, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer William Parker, Baritone |
| (Le) Portrait |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer Jacques Février, Piano Michel Sénéchal, Tenor |
| (La) Grenouillère |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer Gabriel Bacquier, Baritone Jacques Février, Piano |
| Priez pour paix |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Dalton Baldwin, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer Gérard Souzay, Baritone |
| Ce doux petit visage |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer Gabriel Tacchino, Piano Mady Mesplé, Soprano |
| Bleuet |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Dalton Baldwin, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer Nicolai Gedda, Tenor |
| Fiançailles pour rire |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer Gabriel Tacchino, Piano Mady Mesplé, Soprano |
| Banalités |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Dalton Baldwin, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer William Parker, Baritone |
| (3) Métamorphoses |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer Francis Poulenc, Piano Pierre Bernac, Baritone |
| (2) Poèmes de Louis Aragon |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer Pierre Bernac, Baritone |
| Montparnasse |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer Jacques Février, Piano Jean-Christoph Benoit, Baritone |
| Hyde Park |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Dalton Baldwin, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer Nicolai Gedda, Tenor |
| Paul et Virginie |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Dalton Baldwin, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer William Parker, Baritone |
| Mais mourir |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Dalton Baldwin, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer William Parker, Baritone |
| Hymne |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Dalton Baldwin, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer Gérard Souzay, Baritone |
| (3) Chansons |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Dalton Baldwin, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer Gérard Souzay, Baritone |
| (Le) Disparu |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer Gabriel Bacquier, Baritone Jacques Février, Piano |
| Main dominée par le coeur |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer Jacques Février, Piano Jean-Christoph Benoit, Baritone |
| Calligrammes |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Dalton Baldwin, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer William Parker, Baritone |
| Mazurka |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Dalton Baldwin, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer Gérard Souzay, Baritone |
| (La) Fraîcheur et le feu |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer Irwin Gage, Piano Jessye Norman, Soprano |
| Parisiana |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer Jacques Février, Piano Jean-Christoph Benoit, Baritone Michel Sénéchal, Tenor |
| Rosemonde |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Dalton Baldwin, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer William Parker, Baritone |
| (Le) Travail du peintre |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Dalton Baldwin, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer Gérard Souzay, Baritone |
| (La) Souris |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Dalton Baldwin, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer Gérard Souzay, Baritone |
| Nuage |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Dalton Baldwin, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer Gérard Souzay, Baritone |
| Dernier poème |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer Gabriel Bacquier, Baritone Jacques Février, Piano |
| (Une) Chanson de porcelaine |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Dalton Baldwin, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer Michel Sénéchal, Tenor |
| (La) Courte paille |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer Gabriel Tacchino, Piano Mady Mesplé, Soprano |
| Toréador |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Dalton Baldwin, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer Michel Sénéchal, Tenor |
| Fancy |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Dalton Baldwin, Piano Elly Ameling, Soprano Francis Poulenc, Composer |
| Colloque |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Dalton Baldwin, Piano Elly Ameling, Soprano Francis Poulenc, Composer Gérard Souzay, Baritone |
| (Les) Chemins de l'amour |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer Gabriel Tacchino, Piano Mady Mesplé, Soprano |
| Vocalise |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Emmanuel Strosser, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer Marie Devellereau, Soprano |
| Pierrot |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Emmanuel Strosser, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer Nicolas Rivenq, Baritone |
| Nos souvenirs qui chantent |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Emmanuel Strosser, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer Marie Devellereau, Soprano |
| Vive Nadia |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Emmanuel Strosser, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer Nicolas Rivenq, Baritone |
| Chansons villageoises |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer Georges Prêtre, Conductor Jean-Christoph Benoit, Baritone Paris Conservatoire Soloists |
| (4) Chansons pour enfants |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Dalton Baldwin, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer Michel Sénéchal, Tenor |
| Petites voix |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer Jacques Besson, Conductor Maîtrise de la Radioffusion Française |
| (7) Chansons |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Eric Ericson, Conductor Francis Poulenc, Composer Stockholm Chamber Choir |
| Chanson à boire |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
(The) Sixteen Francis Poulenc, Composer Harry Christophers, Conductor |
| Chansons françaises |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
(The) Sixteen Francis Poulenc, Composer Harry Christophers, Conductor |
Author:
The basis of this compilation is a fine boxed set of five LPs from France issued there in 1979 and in Britain three years later. The introductory essay was written by Pierre Bernac who vouched for its inclusiveness: ‘Every single melodie Francis Poulenc wrote has been included in this box, as a fitting homage paid to a composer who found this particular musical form one of the best means of expressing his personality.’ That remains true, though the present editors have made additions, broadening the scope of this volume, and at the same time accommodating some choral works which otherwise would have been without a place in their larger scheme.
They have also introduced new artists and made a partly different selection of recordings. The only soprano in the original set was Elly Ameling, who is replaced in Airs chantes by Rita Streich, in the Trois poemes de Louise de Vilmorin by Liliane Berton, and Fiancailles pour rire and La courte paille by Mady Mesple. The principal gain here is in variety, though that is somewhat restricted as the voices are all rather alike. Ameling was delightful in all, and so she is in the items that remain to her, not least the lovely setting of Tell me where is Fancy bred? which Poulenc wrote for the Countess of Harewood with the dedication ‘To Miles and Flora’. Certainly it is good to hear Streich in this repertoire, singing with energy and substantial chest-tones when called for, and Mesple catches beautifully the tender sadness of ‘Dans l’herbe’ in the Fiancailles. To her also goes Les chemins de l’amour, omitted from the LP edition presumably because it did not, in Bernac’s words, deserve the ‘noble appellation’ of melodie: too melodious, probably.
A more surprising addition to the soprano roster is Jessye Norman, not that she is a stranger to the melodie but that her contribution replaces a performance by the baritone William Parker. La fraicheur et le feu is a marvellous composition in the form of a cycle but all from a single poem. The piano part ranges in a masterly fashion from the dramatic turbulence of a Chopin Etude to the simplicity of a lute-song accompaniment, and I would say that this is better brought out by Irwin Gage than by Dalton Baldwin, the resident pianist of the LP set. Still, regally as Norman’s voice rings forth, Parker’s is the better singing, both in the communication of feeling and the fineness of legato. Indeed, it is a shame to lose anything by this excellent and under-recorded singer. Happily, all the remainder of his work for the edition is retained, and this includes some of the most attractive of the sets, Calligrammes and Banalites, as well as the exquisite Rosemonde.
The beauty of that song and Parker’s singing is enhanced by the sequence in which it is placed between performances by Jean-Christoph Benoit, Michel Senechal and Gerard Souzay. All have artistic merits but sheer beauty of tone and emission is not among them. The deterioration of Souzay’s voice, as early as the mid-1970s, is sad to hear. Senechal is at his best (and then excellent) in the comical Quatre chansons pour enfants. The other tenor is Nicolai Gedda, to whom fall the perhaps not so very attractive Polish songs, and whoseTel jour, telle nuit is replaced by the 1946 Poulenc-Bernac original. This is a triumph not only of the performers’ art but also of the old recording process, for it comes out with startling clarity and presence. Their Metamorphoses is there too, and (sheer gain) their Deux poemes de Louis Aragon, with ‘C’ most memorable and moving of all.
Of the other changes and additions most notable are the orchestrated version of Chansons villageoises and the a cappella choral items. The Sixteen perform with aplomb, the Stockholm Chamber Choir with a rare refinement, and most charmingly the Maitrise of French Radio from 1953 sings the miniatures for children’s voices, Petites voix. These are on the fifth CD. The fourth ends with a little number called Vive Nadia: 17 seconds long, and not one too many, it celebrates the 70th birthday of ‘la chere Nadia Boulanger, la tres chere Nadia. Alleluia.’JBS
They have also introduced new artists and made a partly different selection of recordings. The only soprano in the original set was Elly Ameling, who is replaced in Airs chantes by Rita Streich, in the Trois poemes de Louise de Vilmorin by Liliane Berton, and Fiancailles pour rire and La courte paille by Mady Mesple
A more surprising addition to the soprano roster is Jessye Norman, not that she is a stranger to the melodie but that her contribution replaces a performance by the baritone William Parker. La fraicheur et le feu is a marvellous composition in the form of a cycle but all from a single poem. The piano part ranges in a masterly fashion from the dramatic turbulence of a Chopin Etude to the simplicity of a lute-song accompaniment, and I would say that this is better brought out by Irwin Gage than by Dalton Baldwin, the resident pianist of the LP set. Still, regally as Norman’s voice rings forth, Parker’s is the better singing, both in the communication of feeling and the fineness of legato. Indeed, it is a shame to lose anything by this excellent and under-recorded singer. Happily, all the remainder of his work for the edition is retained, and this includes some of the most attractive of the sets, Calligrammes and Banalites, as well as the exquisite Rosemonde.
The beauty of that song and Parker’s singing is enhanced by the sequence in which it is placed between performances by Jean-Christoph Benoit, Michel Senechal and Gerard Souzay. All have artistic merits but sheer beauty of tone and emission is not among them. The deterioration of Souzay’s voice, as early as the mid-1970s, is sad to hear. Senechal is at his best (and then excellent) in the comical Quatre chansons pour enfants. The other tenor is Nicolai Gedda, to whom fall the perhaps not so very attractive Polish songs, and whose
Of the other changes and additions most notable are the orchestrated version of Chansons villageoises and the a cappella choral items. The Sixteen perform with aplomb, the Stockholm Chamber Choir with a rare refinement, and most charmingly the Maitrise of French Radio from 1953 sings the miniatures for children’s voices, Petites voix. These are on the fifth CD. The fourth ends with a little number called Vive Nadia: 17 seconds long, and not one too many, it celebrates the 70th birthday of ‘la chere Nadia Boulanger, la tres chere Nadia. Alleluia.’
Poulenc Mélodies & Songs
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