– The Complete Songs of Poulenc, Vol. 4 (2013) [Official Digital Download 24bit/48kHz]

– The Complete Songs of Poulenc, Vol. 4 (2013)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 01:09:25 minutes | 621 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Signum Records

Composing over 150 works for piano and voice over a period of 44 years, the songs of Francis Poulenc remain consistently popular to concert audiences the world over. Varying in their individual style and character in a way that defies generalization, Poulenc set music to a wide range of different French poetry – both ancient and modern, and from the serious to the surreal. This is the fourth release in our series that will build to encompass the complete songs of Francis Poulenc – performed by some of the greatest singers of the day and accompanied by the exceptional Malcolm Martineau.

The performances are up to the high standard set in the earlier volumes by Martineau and his well-chosen group of singers. This time Polish soprano Magdalena Molendowska joins the team for a fine performance of the Polish songs, the group of songs written not only in homage to Chopin but almost sounding as though they could have been written by Chopin. Duth baritone Oliemans sings the animal songs and the six village songs, Fox sings the Jacob songs, and ainsley sings the Eluard songs. Their feeling for the texts plus their finely honed gifts of tonal production and dynamic control allow these songs to glow. If you’re looking for a good sampling of songs from Pouenc’s whole life, hese 41 songs will prove enirely satisfying.“ (Robert A Moore, American Record Guide)

Anybody who is already collecting this series will not need any recommendation from me, but this is a really interesting release, including, as it does a number of rarely heard works, all of them in stylish and persuasive performances. The sound is good throughout. This is surely an essential purchase for serious Poulenc collectors. (Nigel Simeone, International Record Review)

Tracklist:
1-1. Malcolm Martineau & Thomas Oliemans – Le bestiaire: I. Le dromadaire (01:27)
1-2. Malcolm Martineau & Thomas Oliemans – Le bestiaire: II. Le chèvre du Thibet (00:41)
1-3. Malcolm Martineau & Thomas Oliemans – Le bestiaire: III. La sauterelle (00:28)
1-4. Malcolm Martineau & Thomas Oliemans – Le bestiaire: IV. Le dauphin (00:28)
1-5. Malcolm Martineau & Thomas Oliemans – Le bestiaire: V. L’écrevisse (00:47)
1-6. Malcolm Martineau & Thomas Oliemans – Le bestiaire: VI. La carpe (01:41)
1-7. Malcolm Martineau & Thomas Oliemans – Le serpent (00:30)
1-8. Malcolm Martineau & Thomas Oliemans – La puce (00:51)
1-9. Malcolm Martineau & Thomas Oliemans – La colombe (00:56)
1-10. Malcolm Martineau & William Dazeley – Poèmes de Ronsard: I. Attributs (01:22)
1-11. Malcolm Martineau & William Dazeley – Poèmes de Ronsard: II. Le tombeau (02:46)
1-12. Malcolm Martineau & William Dazeley – Poèmes de Ronsard: III. Ballet (02:11)
1-13. Malcolm Martineau & William Dazeley – Poèmes de Ronsard: IV. Je n’ai plus que les os … (03:25)
1-14. Malcolm Martineau & William Dazeley – Poèmes de Ronsard: V. A son page (01:36)
1-15. Malcolm Martineau & Sarah Fox – Cinq poèmes de Max Jacob: I. Chanson Bretonne (00:45)
1-16. Malcolm Martineau & Sarah Fox – Cinq poèmes de Max Jacob: II. Cimétière (02:29)
1-17. Malcolm Martineau & Sarah Fox – Cinq poèmes de Max Jacob: III. La petite servante (02:07)
1-18. Malcolm Martineau & Sarah Fox – Cinq poèmes de Max Jacob: IV. Bercuse (01:18)
1-19. Malcolm Martineau & Sarah Fox – Cinq poèmes de Max Jacob: V. Souric et Mouric (01:51)
1-20. Malcolm Martineau & Magdalena Molendowska – Osiem piesńi polskich (Huit chansons polonaises): I. Wianek (La couronne) (02:02)
1-21. Malcolm Martineau & Magdalena Molendowska – Osiem piesńi polskich (Huit chansons polonaises): II. Odjazd (Le départ) (01:03)
1-22. Malcolm Martineau & Magdalena Molendowska – Osiem piesńi polskich (Huit chansons polonaises): III. Polska młodziez (Les gars polonais) (00:57)
1-23. Malcolm Martineau & Magdalena Molendowska – Osiem piesńi polskich (Huit chansons polonaises): IV. Ostatni mazur (Le dernier mazour) (01:59)
1-24. Malcolm Martineau & Magdalena Molendowska – Osiem piesńi polskich (Huit chansons polonaises): V. Pozegnanie (L’adieu) (01:36)
1-25. Malcolm Martineau & Magdalena Molendowska – Osiem piesńi polskich (Huit chansons polonaises): VI. Biała choragiewka (Le drapeau blanc) (00:43)
1-26. Malcolm Martineau & Magdalena Molendowska – Osiem piesńi polskich (Huit chansons polonaises): VII. Wisła (La vistule) (01:46)
1-27. Malcolm Martineau & Magdalena Molendowska – Osiem piesńi polskich (Huit chansons polonaises): VIII. Jezioro (Le lac) (02:15)
1-28. Malcolm Martineau & John Mark Ainsley – Cinq poèmes de Paul Eluard: I. Peut-il se reposer celui qui dort (02:05)
1-29. Malcolm Martineau & John Mark Ainsley – Cinq poèmes de Paul Eluard: II. Il la prend dans ses bras (00:53)
1-30. Malcolm Martineau & John Mark Ainsley – Cinq poèmes de Paul Eluard: III. Plume d’eau claire (00:41)
1-31. Malcolm Martineau & John Mark Ainsley – Cinq poèmes de Paul Eluard: IV. Rôdeuse au front de verre (01:53)
1-32. Malcolm Martineau & John Mark Ainsley – Cinq poèmes de Paul Eluard: V. Amoureuses (01:15)
1-33. Malcolm Martineau & Thomas Oliemans – Chansons villageoises: I. Chanson du clair tamis (00:54)
1-34. Malcolm Martineau & Thomas Oliemans – Chansons villageoises: II. Les gars qui vont à la fête (01:31)
1-35. Malcolm Martineau & Thomas Oliemans – Chansons villageoises: III. C’est le joli printemps (02:43)
1-36. Malcolm Martineau & Thomas Oliemans – Chansons villageoises: IV. Le mendiant (03:38)
1-37. Malcolm Martineau & Thomas Oliemans – Chansons villageoises: V. Chanson de la fille frivole (00:50)
1-38. Malcolm Martineau & Thomas Oliemans – Chansons villageoises: VI. Le retour du sergent (01:54)
1-39. Malcolm Martineau & William Dazeley – Une chanson de porcelaine (01:31)
1-40. Malcolm Martineau & Ann Murray – Fancy (01:55)
1-41. Malcolm Martineau & Sarah Fox – La dame de Monte Carlo (07:22)

Personnel:
John Mark Ainsley, tenor
William Dazeley, baritone
Sarah Fox, soprano
Magdalena Molendowska, soprano
Ann Murray, mezzo-soprano
Thomas Oliemans, baritone
Malcolm Martineau, piano

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