Honegger/Poulenc Perform their own works

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Record and Artist Details

Composer or Director: Francis Poulenc, Arthur Honegger

Label: Composers in Person

Magazine Review Date: 6/1994

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 76

Mastering:

Mono
ADD

Catalogue Number: 555036-2

Tracks:

Composition	Artist Credit
Pastorale d'été	Arthur Honegger, Composer Arthur Honegger, Composer Arthur Honegger, Conductor Symphony Orchestra
Concerto for Cello and Orchestra	Arthur Honegger, Composer Arthur Honegger, Composer Arthur Honegger, Conductor Maurice Maréchal, Cello Paris Conservatoire Orchestra
(3) Mouvements perpétuels	Francis Poulenc, Composer Francis Poulenc, Composer Francis Poulenc, Piano
Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano	Francis Poulenc, Composer Francis Poulenc, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer Gustave Dhérin, Bassoon Roger Lamorlette, Oboe
(2) Novelettes	Francis Poulenc, Composer Francis Poulenc, Composer Francis Poulenc, Piano
(8) Nocturnes, Movement: No. 1 in C	Francis Poulenc, Composer Francis Poulenc, Composer Francis Poulenc, Piano
(8) Nocturnes, Movement: No. 2 in A	Francis Poulenc, Composer Francis Poulenc, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer
(8) Nocturnes, Movement: No. 4 in C minor	Francis Poulenc, Composer Francis Poulenc, Composer Francis Poulenc, Piano
(15) Improvisations, Movement: No. 2 in A flat	Francis Poulenc, Composer Francis Poulenc, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer
(15) Improvisations, Movement: No. 5 in A minor	Francis Poulenc, Composer Francis Poulenc, Composer Francis Poulenc, Piano
(15) Improvisations, Movement: No. 9 in D	Francis Poulenc, Composer Francis Poulenc, Piano Francis Poulenc, Composer
(15) Improvisations, Movement: No. 10 in F, Eloge des gammes	Francis Poulenc, Composer Francis Poulenc, Composer Francis Poulenc, Piano
Aubade	Francis Poulenc, Composer (Walther) Straram Orchestra Francis Poulenc, Composer Francis Poulenc, Piano Walther Straram, Conductor

Author: Robert Layton

Honegger recorded relatively few of his own works—Pacific 231, Rugby, the Prelude to La tempete and the Symphonie liturgique—and although the 1931 recording of Pastoral d'ete is familiar enough from LP and CD transfers, his 1943 account of the Cello Concerto with its dedicatee Maurice Marechal as soloist, is a rarity. It is not a long piece (about 17 minutes) but makes up for its brevity in character, humour and elegance. There is abundant personality and eloquence here and the sound is remarkably good for its period, though the surprise, technically, is Poulenc's own 1930 recording of the (slightly cut) Aubade made only a year after its composition. The piano may lack the freshness of timbre of a modern recording, but the wind are extremely well captured and the whole spirit of the period is vividly conveyed. His playing is more familiar from the songs he recorded with Pierre Bernac (EMI, 4/93) and its limitations and strengths are well known. In the Aubade there is perhaps greater finish than we find in some of his later recordings, which sound as if he could have done with another hour's practice, though even in this piece there are some moments of less than perfect ensemble. However, this is of no account; the main thing is that the spirit of the work comes over so strongly.
Some things are scrambled, as in the second of the Novelettes, yet there are some lovely moments and lots of character. Generally speaking, the earlier the recording the more finished is Poulenc's playing. He overpedals the C minor Nocturne (track 15), although there is still considerable refinement of touch. The special tang of the two French wind players in the engaging Trio of 1926 (recorded two years later) is inimitable; a rather thin, papery sound but like everything here very characterful. A valuable addition in an indispensable series.'