A selection of CDs from the very wide range of recordings of Poulenc's music currently available. The links to Amazon and Fnac not only allow you to buy the discs of course, but also let you surf the web in search of other recordings of Poulenc. Concertos, Orchestral and Choral works (5CD Box set) by Charles Dutoit DECCA This is a very fine 5CD box set, mid-price, which brings together the best of Poulenc (Gloria, Stabat Mater, Concertos, etc), performed by first-class artists including Pascal Rogé, François le Roux and the Orchestre National de France. CD available on Concertos, Religious Works VIRGIN A beautiful British box set comprising the Concertos and choral works, both unaccompanied and with orchestra. The choir, Harry Christophers and The Sixteen are impeccably precise. Budget price. CD available on Concert champêtre, Concerto for two pianos, Concerto for organ EMI Classics The concertos played by Poulenc, Février and Duruflé. A historic benchmark. We also recommend the DVD of the Concerto for 2 pianos (see Videos). CD available on Gloria - Stabat Mater Georges Prêtre - Barbara Hendricks EMI Classics Georges Prêtre had already performed these sacred works in Poulenc's lifetime. Here, the soloist is the soprano Barbara Hendricks, whose crystal-clear voice matches perfectly the spirit of the works. CD available on Gloria - Stabat mater Seiji Ozawa - Kathleen Battle DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON A brilliant and well-balanced performance of the Gloria and the Stabat Mater with Seiji Ozawa and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. CD available on Concerto for two pianos - Concerto for piano - Braley -Le Sage RCA Spirited yet controlled from start to finish, this major recording stands out in the canon of recordings of the double concerto. CD available on The Essentials (3CD) Pierre Bernac TESTAMENT If you want to go back to the original...nothing matches this historic 3CD box set. CD available on Mélodies Gérard Souzay EMI Classics You must experience the warmth of tone and expressiveness of the baritone Gérard Souzay, who was the outstanding interpreter of Poulenc's Mélodies, following the Bernac years. CD available on Mélodies Felicity Lott - François Le Roux DECCA Reissued in 2007 as a mid-price box set, this near-complete collection is ideal for discovering or getting to know better the world of Francis Poulenc's Mélodies, sung here by two superb artists, François le Roux and Felicity Lott, accompanied by Pascal Rogé. CD available on Hommage à Francis Poulenc Felicity Lott - Graham Johnson FORLANE The most beautiful music performed by the most Francophile performers? Felicity Lott and Graham Johnson are two long-time lovers of Poulenc. This disc is a superb tribute to both their talents. CD available on Complete Chamber Music RCA A perfect complete works, meticulous, with first-rate performers (Emmanuel Pahud, Paul Meyer, Michel Portal, François Leleux, accompanied by Eric le Sage) who raise this genre, where woodwind is so often favoured by the composer, to new heights. CD available on Complete Chamber Music NAXOS A marvellous complete works (5CD) budget price, with artistic direction by the pianist Alexandre Tharaud, also featuring among other pieces Le Bal Masqué, l'Histoire de Babar, L'invitation au château and Léocadia. CD available on Poulenc - Fournier Sonata for 'cello and piano La RAI 1953 This release was acclaimed at our annual meeting in 2007: a varied album with Schumann, Debussy, Stravinsky. Pierre Fournier was a good friend of Poulenc who accompanies him at the piano here. Wonderful sonority from the duo! CD available on Complete Piano Works (5 CD) Pascal Rogé DECCA All Poulenc's solo piano pieces played by a real lover of his music, who excels by his marvellous touch and quintessentially French sound. CD available on Complete Piano Works (5CD) Gabriel Tacchino EMI Classics Gabriel Tacchino, vice-président of our association, is in some measure the great « disciple » of Francis Poulenc. He was thus the first to record the complete piano works with this benchmark recording which can be listened to over and over again. Pascal Rogé, Eric le Sage and Alexandre Tharaud follow in his footsteps. CD available on Works for 2 pianos Duo Benzakoum INTEGRAL CLASSIC An authoritative account of the works for two pianos. CD available on Dialogues des Carmélites Derveaux - Duval - Crespin EMI Classics The historic standard version of Dialogues des Carmélites. Everybody is there: Denise Duval, Régine Crespin, Rita Gorr, with Dervaux directing (uniquely dark and powerful). The mono recording shows its age slightly, but what atmosphere, what emotion! CD available on Dialogues des Carmélites Lott -Crespin INA Crespin who created the role of the new Mother Superior in 1957, excels as the first Prioress in this 1980 recording, without doubt one of the most beautiful in all the discography. Lott is an ideal “spotless” Blanche. CD available on Dialogues des Carmélites Nagano VIRGIN Definitely the finest recording, in digital quality, of this work. With Catherine Dubosc as Blanche, Rita Gorr as First Prioress, and Kent Nagano (detailed and very precise) directing the orchestra of the Opéra de Lyon. CD available on La Voix Humaine Denise Duval - Georges Prêtre EMI Classics The original benchmark recording of the work with the performers who created it. The DVD release of the film version by Dominique Delouche is planned for 2009. That might be a better buy, allowing you to see the outstanding action and the unrivalled presence of Denise Duval, so beloved of Poulenc. CD available on La Voix Humaine Jane Rhodes INA A splendid live recording (from 1976) which was languishing on the shelves of the Institut National de l'Audiovisuel and which has now fortunately been reissued. Jane Rhodes offers a haunted version of La Voix Humaine, a far cry from the introspection of Denise Duval. CD available on Figure humaine Equilbey - Accentus VALOIS Equilbey and his choir Accentus are excellent in Poulenc. Figure Humaine is an extremely difficult piece which truly demands an ensemble of this calibre. CD available on Sacred Works Equilbey - Accentus ACCORD A perfect complement to the CD of Figure Humaine, again by Accentus CD available on Histoire de Babar Jeanne Moreau – Jean Marc Luisada DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON Jeanne Moreau's beautiful deep, cracked voice narrating this touching story, why not? 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