Francis Poulenc - Orchestral Works (Georges Prêtre)

Information

Composer: Francis Poulenc

CD1:

• Les biches (The Does), ballet, FP 36
• Bucolique, for "Variations sur le nom de Marguerite Long", FP 160
• Pastourelle, for "L'éventail de Jeanne", FP 45
• Matelote provençale, for "La guirlande de Campra", FP 153
• La baigneuse de Trouville (carte postale en couleurs), for "Les mariés de la Tour Eiffel", FP 23
• Discours du général, polka pour deux cornets à pistons, for "Les mariés de la Tour Eiffel", FP 23
• Suite française (d'après Claude Gervaise), FP 80
• Les animaux modèles, FP 111

CD2:

• Sinfonietta, FP 141
• Deux marches et un intermède, FP 88
• Concert champêtre, for harpsichord & orchestra, FP 49
• Concerto for 2 pianos & orchestra in D minor, FP 61

Aimée van de Wiele, harpsichord

Jacques Février & Francis Poulenc, pianos

Ambrosian Singers

Philharmonia Orchestra

Orchestre de Paris

Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire

Georges Prêtre, conductor

Date: 1962-1980

Label: EMI Classics

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Francis Poulenc (7 January 1899 – 30 January 1963) was a French composer and pianist. He was one of a group of young composers known collectively as Les Six. His compositions include songs, solo piano works, chamber music, choral pieces, operas, ballets, and orchestral concert music. Among the best-known are the ballet Les biches (1923), the Concert champêtre (1928), and the Organ Concerto (1938). In addition to his work as a composer, Poulenc was an accomplished pianist. He toured in Europe and America with the baritone Pierre Bernac and the soprano Denise Duval, and made a number of recordings.

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Georges Prêtre (14 August 1924 – 4 January 2017) was a French conductor. He studied under Maurice Duruflé and André Cluytens at the Conservatoire de Paris. Prêtre was Director of the Opéra-Comique in Paris from 1955 to 1959, then conducted at the Lyric Opera of Chicago from 1959 to 1971. He was also Music Director at the Paris Opéra (1970–1971) and Principal Conductor of the Wiener Symphoniker (1986–1991). Aside from opera, Prêtre was best known for performances of French music. He is especially associated with Francis Poulenc, giving the premiere of his opera La voix humaine and his Sept répons des ténèbres.

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