Francis Poulenc [1899-1963]

On this day,

January 7, 1899

French composer and pianist

Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc

was born

in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, France

One of the great melodists of the twentieth century, Poulenc was largely self-taught as a composer.

He made an important contribution to French music in the decades after World War I and whose songs are considered among the best composed during the 20th century.

His compositions include songs, solo piano works, chamber music, choral pieces, operas, ballets, and orchestral concert music. Among the best-known are the piano suite Trois mouvements perpétuels (1919), the ballet Les biches (1923), the Concert champêtre (1928) for harpsichord and orchestra, the Organ Concerto (1938), the opera Dialogues des Carmélites (1957), and the Gloria (1959) for soprano, choir and orchestra.

My music is my portrait

We listen to

Concerto in D Minor for 2 Pianos and Orchestra

conducted by
Jacek Kaspszyk

Martha Argerich, Alexander Gurning, pianos

Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana

1. Allegro ma non troppo 00:00
2. Larghetto 09:18
3. Allegro molto 15:11

and

Les Animaux Modèles

conducted by
Jan Wagner

Odense Symphony Orchestra

1. Le Petit Jour (Tres calme) 00:00
2. Le Lion amoureux (Passionnement anime) 04:19
3. L’Homme entre deux ages et ses deux maitre… 06:02
4. Le Mort et le Bucheron (Tres lent) 08:07
5. Les Deux Coqs (Tres modere) 13:54
6. Le Repas de midi (Tres doux, calme et heureux) 17:24

mt. Pendeli clouds

Enjoy!

Stay Safe!

27 replies »

  1. I’m pretty sure I listened to a CD box set of his songs a few years ago from the library. Liked it. A nice, sleepy afternoon. I don’t get too many of those these days!

  2. What a lovely treat, Marina! We are not too familiar with Poulenc and his work and very much like what we hear.
    Warm greetings to you from the Norfolk Coast 🌊
    The Fab Four 💃🏼🧚🏻‍♀️🧚🏻‍♀️🚶🏼‍♂️

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