Francis Poulenc
Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc (French: [fʁɑ̃sis ʒɑ̃ maʁsɛl pulɛ̃k]; 7 January 1899 – 30 January 1963) was a French composer and pianist. His compositions include songs, solo piano works, chamber music, choral pieces, operas, ballets, and orchestral concert music. Among the best-known are the piano suite Trois mouvements perpétuels (1919), the ballet Les biches (1923), the Concert champêtre (1928) for harpsichord and orchestra, the Organ Concerto (1938), the opera Dialogues des Carmélites (1957), and the Gloria (1959) for soprano, choir, and orchestra. As the only son of a prosperous manufacturer, Poulenc was expected to follow his father into the family firm, and he was not allowed to enrol at a music college. He studied with the pianist Ricardo Viñes, who became his mentor after the composer's parents died. Poulenc also made the acquaintance of Erik Satie, under whose tutelage he became one of a group of young composers known collectively as Les Six. In his early works Poulenc became known for his high spirits and irreverence. During the 1930s a much more serious side to his nature emerged, particularly in the religious music he composed from 1936 onwards, which he alternated with his more light-hearted works. In addition to his work as a composer, Poulenc was an accomplished pianist. He was particularly celebrated for his performing partnerships with the baritone Pierre Bernac (who also advised him in vocal writing) and the soprano Denise Duval. He toured in Europe and America with both of them, and made a number of recordings as a pianist. He was among the first composers to see the importance of the gramophone, and he recorded extensively from 1928 onwards. In his later years, and for decades after his death, Poulenc had a reputation, particularly in his native country, as a humorous, lightweight composer, and his religious music was often overlooked. In the 21st century, more attention has been given to his serious works, with many new productions of Dialogues des Carmélites and La voix humaine worldwide, and numerous live and recorded performances of his songs and choral music. |
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gramophone | 0LA2453 | 10-in. | 4/6/1938 | Le jardin mouillé | Pierre Bernac ; Francis Poulenc | Baritone vocal solo, with piano | instrumentalist, piano | |
Gramophone | 0LA2454 | 10-in. | 4/6/1938 | Coeur en péril | Pierre Bernac ; Francis Poulenc | Baritone vocal solo, with piano | instrumentalist, piano | |
Columbia (U.K.) | WLX272 | 12-in. | 3/7/1928 | Trio pour piano, hautbois et basson : Andante | Gustave Dhérin ; Roland Lamorlette ; Francis Poulenc | Piano trio | composer, instrumentalist, piano | |
Columbia (U.K.) | WLX273 | 12-in. | 3/7/1928 | Trio pour piano, hautbois et basson : Presto, 1re partie | Gustave Dhérin ; Roland Lamorlette ; Francis Poulenc | Piano trio | instrumentalist, piano, composer | |
Columbia (U.K.) | WLX274 | 12-in. | 3/7/1928 | Trio pour piano, hautbois et basson : Presto, 2e partie | Gustave Dhérin ; Roland Lamorlette ; Francis Poulenc | Piano trio | instrumentalist, piano, composer | |
Columbia (U.K.) | WLX275 | 12-in. | 3/7/1928 | Trio pour piano, hautbois et basson : Rondo | Gustave Dhérin ; Roland Lamorlette ; Francis Poulenc | Piano trio | instrumentalist, piano, composer | |
Columbia (U.K.) | WLX328 | 12-in. | 4/5/1928 | A) le dromadaire | Claire Croiza | Female vocal solo, with piano | instrumentalist, piano, composer | |
Columbia (U.K.) | WLX363 | 12-in. | 5/7/1928 | L'invitation au voyage | Claire Croiza | Female vocal solo, with piano | instrumentalist, piano | |
Columbia (U.K.) | WLX488 | 12-in. | 6/22/1928 | Les biches : No. 3 adagietto | Francis Poulenc | Piano solo | instrumentalist, piano, composer | |
Columbia (U.K.) | WLX489 | 12-in. | 6/22/1928 | Les biches : No. 2 rondeau | Francis Poulenc | Piano solo | instrumentalist, piano, composer | |
Columbia (U.K.) | WL947 | 10-in. | 3/7/1928 | Mouvements perpétuels | Francis Poulenc | Piano solo | instrumentalist, piano, composer | |
Columbia (U.K.) | WL1209 | 10-in. | 6/22/1928 | Mouvements perpétuels | Francis Poulenc | Piano solo | instrumentalist, piano, composer | |
Columbia (U.K.) | WL1212 | 10-in. | 6/22/1928 | Ariettes oubliées | Claire Croiza ; Francis Poulenc | Mezzo-soprano vocal solo, with piano | instrumentalist, piano | |
Columbia (U.K.) | WLX1613 | 12-in. | 6/11/1932 | Deux novelettes pour piano: 1) En ut majeur; 2) En si bémol mineur | Francis Poulenc | Piano solo | instrumentalist, piano, composer | |
Columbia (U.K.) | WLX1614 | 12-in. | 6/11/1932 | Caprice pour piano d'après le final du "bal masqué" | Francis Poulenc | Piano solo | instrumentalist, piano, composer | |
Columbia (U.K.) | WL1968 | 10-in. | approximately December 16 through 30, 1929 | Airs chantés | Suzanne Peignot ; Francis Poulenc | Soprano vocal solo, with piano | instrumentalist, piano, composer | |
Columbia (U.K.) | WL1969 | 10-in. | approximately December 16 through 30, 1929 | Airs chantés | Suzanne Peignot ; Francis Poulenc | Soprano vocal solo, with piano | instrumentalist, piano, composer | |
Columbia (U.K.) | WL2013 | 10-in. | 1/20/1930 | Aubade | Orchestre des concerts Straram ; Francis Poulenc ; Walter Straram | Piano with orchestra | instrumentalist, piano, composer | |
Columbia (U.K.) | WL2014 | 10-in. | 1/20/1930 | Aubade | Orchestre des concerts Straram ; Francis Poulenc ; Walter Straram | Piano with orchestra | instrumentalist, piano, composer | |
Columbia (U.K.) | WL2015 | 10-in. | 1/20/1930 | Aubade | Orchestre des concerts Straram ; Francis Poulenc ; Walter Straram | Piano with orchestra | instrumentalist, piano, composer | |
Columbia (U.K.) | WL2016 | 10-in. | 1/20/1930 | Aubade | Orchestre des concerts Straram ; Francis Poulenc ; Walter Straram | Piano with orchestra | instrumentalist, piano, composer | |
Columbia (U.K.) | WL2017 | 10-in. | 1/22/1930 | Aubade | Orchestre des concerts Straram ; Francis Poulenc ; Walter Straram | Piano with orchestra | instrumentalist, piano, composer | |
Columbia (U.K.) | WL2018 | 10-in. | 1/22/1930 | Aubade | Orchestre des concerts Straram ; Francis Poulenc ; Walter Straram | Piano with orchestra | instrumentalist, piano, composer |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Poulenc, Francis," accessed November 7, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/360027.
Poulenc, Francis. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/360027.
"Poulenc, Francis." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 7 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Francis Poulenc
Discogs: Francis Poulenc
Allmusic: Francis Poulenc
Apple Music: Francis Poulenc
Grove: Francis Poulenc
IMSLP: Francis Poulenc
RILM: Francis Poulenc
RISM: Francis Poulenc
IMDb: Francis Poulenc
Britannica: Francis Poulenc
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Poulenc, Francis, 1899-1963 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n80015508
Wikidata: Francis Poulenc - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q191408
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/71579067
MusicBrainz: Francis Poulenc - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/5e1ef22b-310a-46ad-885b-4897b8c9c85a
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
Feedback
Send the Editors a message about this record.