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Tharaud+Partners: Poulenc: Chamber Music Complete: A Sleeper

Dan Fee | Berkeley, CA USA | 02/23/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"French pianist Alexander Tharaud has by now gotten much more attention than when this complete five disc set of Poulenc chamber music was early in the artists and repertoire planning at Naxos. His discs of Chopin have gotten particular positive attention; not everybody likes his playing, of course. My own tastes have me gushing about his Chopin Waltzes, Preludes, and a mixed recital of Chopin works on a disc titled, Intimate Journal (EMI). His Ravel Piano Music, a complete two disc set, is also a strong musical stand-out. Interested listeners can also check out his Rameau, Bach, Milhaud, Debussy, and an undaunted performance assortment of very modern composers.



This complete chamber music set?



The music on disc one is heavy on woodwinds in various combinations. As pianist, Alexander Tharaud makes a top-notch contribution, fully equal in the best sense of fine chamber ensemble playing to the high quality woodwind performance taking place throughout the pieces in the set. Disc two moves on, to sonatas for violin, clarinet, cello; plus a violin bagatelle. Again Tharaud seems a nearly ideal chamber music partner - to the best French manner born, as he makes music with violinist Graf Mourja, cellist Francoise Groben, and clarinetist Ronald von Spaendonck. Disc three returns us to music for two pianos, and mixtures of other instruments - clarinet, bassoon; a combined horn, trumpet, trombone sonata. Chances are good that most listeners will not have heard these works, outside of quite advanced student recitals perhaps. Poulenc seems to have decided to write for the three brass instruments as if he were writing for a string trio. It comes off beautifully, surprise. Disc four widens Poulenc's eclectic musical reach further - suites from Le Bal Masque, Le Bestiaire; music of different kinds, including a sarabande for guitar, and settings of four poems from Max Jacob for tenor voice. Disc five is the concluding disc, offering us lots of fun and charm: incidental music in chamber ensemble versions from L'Invitation au Chateau, and from Leocadia, plus French and English versions of Babar The Little Elephant.



The draw of this complete set involves more than one dimension of effective musical appeal.



First off, consider the really good pricing. Thanks, Naxos.



Then weigh the very high level of musical performance which describes everything in the set. Yes, all the works, played well indeed. One might perhaps imagine other competitive readings; but probably no one is likely to do better with Poulenc's chamber music, so comprehensively, so consistently, even if an alternate reading rises high. Some listeners formerly put off by Poulenc might still end up liking these readings, just to enjoy the excellent and engaging chamber music being made. If you cannot quite imagine a trumpet, horn, and trombone imitating a string trio (Guarneri? Strad?), you owe yourself a listen.



One can hardly imagine better technical players, let alone musicians so deftly well-tuned, into Poulenc's typical musical ethos and manners - quicksilver musical light plus surprising shadows cast dark, always fluid, always sophisticated. If you are already a Poulenc chamber music fan, this set is nearly indispensable. Especially at its Naxos pricing.



Five stars - for all five discs in this set.

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