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Poulenc becomes a fixture of Paris's thrilling avant-garde scene, as a member of Jean Cocteau's infamous artistic circle, Les Six.

Francis Poulenc was the epitome of Parisian high society: suave, convivial and connected. Or was that how he wanted us to see him? The critic Claude Rostand famously commented that Poulenc was a combination of “moine et voyou” - monk and rogue. This week, we follow the composer from Paris’s artisanal upper class heartland, to the city’s dark underbelly, discovering the moments when the monk and the rogue met face-to-face.

In today’s programme, we’ll hear how Poulenc became a fixture of Paris’s thrilling avant-garde scene, as a member of Jean Cocteau’s infamous artistic circle: Les Six.

Le Bestiaire
Malcolm Martineau, piano
Thomas Allen, baritone

L’Album des Six
Corinna Simon, piano

Les Mariés de la Tour Eiffel
ѿý Concert Orchestra
Bramwell Tovey, conductor

Les Biches
ѿý National Chorus of Wales
ѿý National Orchestra of Wales
Thierry Fischer, conductor

Concert Champêtre
Orchestre National de France
Pascal Rogé, harpsichord
Charles Dutoit, conductor

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Francis Poulenc

    Le Bestiaire

    Performer: Malcolm Martineau. Performer: Lisa Friend. Performer: Julian Bliss. Performer: Jaroslaw Augustyniak. Singer: Thomas Oliemans. Ensemble: The Oculus Ensemble.
    • SIGNUM : SIGCD-333.
    • SIGNUM.
    • 6.
  • Georges Auric

    Prelude, for L'Album des Six'

    Performer: Corinna Simon.
    • RCA RED SEAL : 19075959772.
    • RCA RED SEAL.
    • 1.
  • Louis Durey

    Romance sans paroles, for L'Album des Six'

    Performer: Corinna Simon.
    • RCA RED SEAL : 19075959772.
    • RCA RED SEAL.
    • 2.
  • Arthur Honegger

    Sarabande, for L'Album des Six'

    Performer: Corinna Simon.
    • RCA RED SEAL : 19075959772.
    • RCA RED SEAL.
    • 3.
  • Darius Milhaud

    Mazurka, for L'Album des Six'

    Performer: Corinna Simon.
    • RCA RED SEAL : 19075959772.
    • RCA RED SEAL.
    • 4.
  • Francis Poulenc

    Valse, for L'Album des Six

    Performer: Corinna Simon.
    • RCA RED SEAL : 19075959772.
    • RCA RED SEAL.
    • 5.
  • Germaine Tailleferre

    Pastorale, for L'Album des Six'

    Performer: Corinna Simon.
    • RCA RED SEAL : 19075959772.
    • RCA RED SEAL.
    • 6.
  • Darius Milhaud

    Les Mariés de la Tour Eiffel

    Composer: Georges Auric. Composer: Arthur Honegger. Composer: Francis Poulenc. Composer: Germaine Tailleferre. Orchestra: ѿý Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Bramwell Tovey.
    • Chandos : CHSA-5260.
    • Chandos.
    • 5.
  • Francis Poulenc

    Les Biches (excerpt)

    Choir: ѿý National Chorus of Wales. Orchestra: ѿý National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Thierry Fischer.
    • SIGNUM : SIGCD205.
    • SIGNUM.
    • 15.
  • Francis Poulenc

    Concert champetre

    Performer: Pascal Rogé. Orchestra: Orchestre national de France. Conductor: Charles Dutoit.
    • DECCA : 452-665-2.
    • DECCA.
    • 5.

Broadcast

  • Tue 18 Apr 2023 12:00

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