Malcolm Martineau - The Complete Songs of Poulenc, Vol. 1 (2011) [Official Digital Download]

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 generalisation, Poulenc set his music to a wide range of French poetry – both ancient and modern, and from the serious to the surreal.

This release marks the first in a new series charting the complete songs of Francis Poulenc, performed by some of the greatest singers of the day and accompanied by the exceptional Malcolm Martineau. Future releases will feature several works that have never before been recorded.

This disc includes the vocal works: Cocardes, Metamorphoses, Chansons gaillardes, À sa guitare, Épitaphe sur un texte de Malherbe, Trois Poèmes de Louise de Vilmorin, Bleuet, Dernier poème, Rosemonde, Fiançailles, Parisiana and La Courte Paille.

"The best performances, though – Murray in the early Cocteau cycle Cocardes, Maltman in the Chansons Gaillardes, Milne in the Fiançailles pour Rire – are very fine" (The Guardian)

"Lisa Milne performs wonderfully throughout this Poulenc disc. She really sings the French as to the Manoir born … A nicely balanced and arranged recital for all of these voices, so a promising start to this new Poulenc series." (Hilary Finch and Andrew McGregor, BBC Radio 3)

"Poulenc’s singular mix of whimsy, religiosity and cool wit guarantees plenty of variety. Martineau accompanies with judicious, sharp-eared facility and experience" (The Observer)

Tracklist:

Francis Poulenc (1899-1963)

1. Malcolm Martineau & Robert Murray – Cocardes: Miel de Narbonne (02:44)
2. Malcolm Martineau & Robert Murray – Cocardes: Bonne d’enfant (01:37)
3. Malcolm Martineau & Robert Murray – Cocardes: Enfant de troupe (02:18)
4. Malcolm Martineau & Lisa Milne – Metamorphoses: Reine des mouettes (01:03)
5. Malcolm Martineau & Lisa Milne – Metamorphoses: C’est ainsi que tu es (02:27)
6. Malcolm Martineau & Lisa Milne – Metamorphoses: Paganini (01:13)
7. Malcolm Martineau & Christopher Maltman – Chansons gaillardes: La maîtresse volage (00:39)
8. Malcolm Martineau & Christopher Maltman – Chansons gaillardes: Chanson à boire (02:29)
9. Malcolm Martineau & Christopher Maltman – Chansons gaillardes: Madrigal (00:36)
10. Malcolm Martineau & Christopher Maltman – Chansons gaillardes: Invocation aux Parques (01:45)
11. Malcolm Martineau & Christopher Maltman – Chansons gaillardes: Couplets bachiques (01:30)
12. Lorna Anderson, Jonathan Lemalu, Felicity Lott, Christopher Maltman, Lisa Milne, Robert Murray & Malcolm Martineau – Chansons gaillardes: L’offrande (01:04)
13. Malcolm Martineau & Christopher Maltman – Chansons gaillardes: La belle jeunesse (01:40)
14. Malcolm Martineau & Christopher Maltman – Chansons gaillardes: Sérénade (02:45)
15. Malcolm Martineau & Lorna Anderson – À sa guitare (02:56)
16. Malcolm Martineau & Jonathan Lemalu – Épitaphe sur un texte de Malherbe (01:12)
17. Malcolm Martineau & Lorna Anderson – Trois Poèmes de Louise de Vilmorin: Le Garçon de Liège (01:27)
18. Malcolm Martineau & Lorna Anderson – Trois Poèmes de Louise de Vilmorin: Au-delà (01:20)
19. Malcolm Martineau & Lorna Anderson – Trois Poèmes de Louise de Vilmorin: Aux Officiers de la garde blanche (03:48)
20. Malcolm Martineau & Robert Murray – Bleuet (03:21)
21. Malcolm Martineau & Lisa Milne – Dernier poème (02:05)
22. Malcolm Martineau & Christopher Maltman – Rosemonde (01:56)
23. Malcolm Martineau & Lisa Milne – Fiançailles: La dame d’André (01:22)
24. Malcolm Martineau & Lisa Milne – Fiançailles: Dans l’herbe (02:40)
25. Malcolm Martineau & Lisa Milne – Fiançailles: Il vole (01:52)
26. Malcolm Martineau & Lisa Milne – Fiançailles: Mon cadavre est doux comme un gant (03:22)
27. Malcolm Martineau & Lisa Milne – Fiançailles: Violon (02:14)
28. Malcolm Martineau & Lisa Milne – Fiançailles: Fleurs (02:52)
29. Malcolm Martineau & Robert Murray – Parisiana: Jouer du bugle (01:39)
30. Malcolm Martineau & Robert Murray – Parisiana: Vous n’écrivez plus? (00:50)
31. Malcolm Martineau & Felicity Lott – La Courte Paille: Le sommeil (02:04)
32. Malcolm Martineau & Felicity Lott – La Courte Paille: Quelle aventure! (01:04)
33. Malcolm Martineau & Felicity Lott – La Courte Paille: La reine de cœur (01:43)
34. Malcolm Martineau & Felicity Lott – La Courte Paille: Ba, be, bi, bo, bu (00:28)
35. Malcolm Martineau & Felicity Lott – La Courte Paille: Les anges musiciens (01:30)
36. Malcolm Martineau & Felicity Lott – La Courte Paille: Le carafon (01:06)
37. Malcolm Martineau & Felicity Lott – La Courte Paille: Lune d’avril (02:39)

Personnel:
Lisa Milne, soprano
Lorna Anderson, soprano
Robert Murray, tenor
Felicity Lott, soprano
Christopher Maltman, baritone
Jonathan Lemalu, bass-baritone
Malcolm Martineau, piano