Description
Francis Poulenc: Piano Music Vol. 2 by Naxos CD
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- UPC: 730099493024
- Product Type: Audio CD
- Brand Name: Naxos
- MPN: 8.553930
- Genre: Classical
- Style: Modern / Impressionist / French Piano
- Composer: Francis Poulenc (1899 – 1963)
- Artist: Olivier Cazal (Piano)
- Release Year: 1999
Product Features
- Format: CD (Compact Disc Digital Audio)
- Recording Mode: DDD (Full Digital)
- Total Playing Time: 61:46
- Recording Location: Fisher Hall, Santa Rosa, California
- Piano Used: Baldwin SD-10 Concert Grand
- Notes: Features English, German, and French text
Overview
Discover the witty, lyrical, and deeply expressive world of Francis Poulenc with this second volume of his piano music from Naxos. Pianist Olivier Cazal brings these mid-20th-century French masterpieces to life with technical precision and emotional sensitivity. The program spans Poulenc's career, from the youthful energy of the Trois mouvements perpétuels to the sophisticated character sketches of Les soirées de Nazelles. Whether evoking a melancholic mood or a playful dance, these pieces represent the pinnacle of French piano repertoire.
Interesting Facts
- The "Les Six" Member: Francis Poulenc was a member of the famous group of French composers known as "Les Six," who sought to move away from late-Romantic and Impressionist styles toward a more direct and witty sound.
- Nazelles Inspiration: Les soirées de Nazelles was written as a musical souvenir of evenings spent with friends at a country house in Nazelles; each variation serves as a "portrait" of a different guest.
- Artist Pedigree: Pianist Olivier Cazal is a multi-award winner at prestigious international competitions, including the Busoni and the Long-Thibaud.
- Cover Art: The cover features the vibrant painting "The Eiffel Tower (1910-11)" by Robert Delaunay, reflecting the modern Parisian spirit of Poulenc's music.
- Baldwin Connection: This recording was made using a Baldwin SD-10 Concert Grand, known for its powerful bass and crystalline treble, which suits Poulenc's percussive yet melodic writing style.
Track Listing
- Mélancolie (1940) (5:49) 2–4. Trois mouvements perpétuels (1918) (5:20) 5–11. Suite française d’après Claude Gervaise (1935) (12:33)
- Française d’après Claude Gervaise (1939) (1:38)
- Pièce brève sur le nom d’Albert Roussel (1:45)
- Badinage (1934) (1:32) 15–25. Les soirées de Nazelles (1930/1936) (21:21)
- Humoresque (1934) (1:38)
- Valse-improvisation sur le nom de Bach (1932) (1:22) 28–32. Cinq impromptus (1920) – Revised 1939 edition (7:21)
- Presto in B flat major (1934) (1:24)
Publishers
- Label: Naxos
- Copyright: ℗ 1999 HNH International Ltd. © 1999 HNH International Ltd.
- Music Notes: Victor and Marina A. Ledin
- Production: Produced by Marina A. and Victor Ledin, Encore Consultants
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