Search - Francis Poulenc, Pierre Dervaux, Georges Prêtre :: Poulenc: Concerto champêtre; Concerto for two pianos; Organ Concerto

Magnificent Authorative Recordings

D. A Wend | Buffalo Grove, IL USA | 03/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had the original LPs of these recording so I was happy to see that they had been transferred to CD. The performances of these three concertos by Francis Poulenc are the best I have heard. The Concert champetre (1929) was written for Wanda Landowska and was a favorite piece of hers but she never recorded it despite the urgings of Poulenc. This recording of the Concert champetre was made in 1957 with Aimee van de Wiele as soloist, who gives an energetic performance along the lines of Landowska. The Concerto for two pianos (1932) has the composer and Jacques Fevrier as soloists, a combination that could not be more ideal as Poulenc had Fevirer and himself in mind when he wrote the music. The Organ Concerto (1936) is a magnificent work full of wonderful melodies and is played in a 1961 recording by the organist who first performed the piece: Marcel Durufle. The Organ Concerto is not as playful as the piano concerto that precedes it on this disc and is more influenced by Poulenc's sacred works. The concerto is a marvelous mix of Bach and modern music.



The recording of the Concert champetre is on the dry side but the Concerto for two pianos and the Organ Concerto are beautifully recorded. The CD comes with an informative booklet about Francis Poulenc and the music on the disc.

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