Notes and Editorial Reviews
Francis Poulenc was an elegant composer of numerous works for soloists, chamber ensemble, orchestra, and the stage. His style was lighthearted but genuine, simple yet complex. An excellent pianist, Poulenc wrote a vast amount of piano music in long and short forms. This disc, Naxos' first volume of solo piano music featuring French pianist Olivier Cazal, includes a variety of compositions written by Poulenc throughout his lifetime. Meticulously crafted and idiomatic, these works are a pleasure to behold. Poulenc uses standard musical terms for many of his titles (i.e., "nocturne," "suite," "intermezzi," etc.) but they don't apply to his music in the same fashion as Chopin, Bach, or Brahms. In Poulenc's musical sphere, titles are purely
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suggestive; they provide the structure. For example, his 'Nocturnes,' delicate musings infused with rhythmic twists do not recall Chopin's use of rubato melodic line with repeated accompaniment patterns. This isn't an issue; Poulenc's 'Nocturnes,' with Cazal at the helm, are lyrical and compelling. Also on this disc is 'Promenades,' written for pianist Artur Rubinstein. In ten brief movements, these pieces serve as a surreal, humorous depiction of travel. As with much of Poulenc's music, a chuckle while listening is a familiar response. Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Nocturnes (8) for Piano by Francis Poulenc
Performer:
Olivier Cazal (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1929-1938; France
Date of Recording: 08/1995
Venue: Fisher Hall, Santa Rosa, California
Length: 18 Minutes 22 Secs.
2.
Suite for Piano in C major by Francis Poulenc
Performer:
Olivier Cazal (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1920/1926; France
Date of Recording: 08/1995
Venue: Fisher Hall, Santa Rosa, California
Length: 5 Minutes 21 Secs.
3.
Promenades (10) by Francis Poulenc
Performer:
Olivier Cazal (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1921; France
Date of Recording: 08/1995
Venue: Fisher Hall, Santa Rosa, California
Length: 14 Minutes 57 Secs.
4.
Pastourelle for Piano by Francis Poulenc
Performer:
Olivier Cazal (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1927; France
Date of Recording: 08/1995
Venue: Fisher Hall, Santa Rosa, California
Length: 2 Minutes 6 Secs.
5.
Villageoises by Francis Poulenc
Performer:
Olivier Cazal (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1933; France
Date of Recording: 08/1995
Venue: Fisher Hall, Santa Rosa, California
Length: 4 Minutes 30 Secs.
6.
Feuillets d'album (3) by Francis Poulenc
Performer:
Olivier Cazal (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1933; France
Date of Recording: 08/1995
Venue: Fisher Hall, Santa Rosa, California
Length: 3 Minutes 37 Secs.
7.
Intermezzi (3) for Piano by Francis Poulenc
Performer:
Olivier Cazal (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1934-1943; France
Date of Recording: 08/1995
Venue: Fisher Hall, Santa Rosa, California
Length: 9 Minutes 8 Secs.
8.
Bourrée au pavillon d'Auvergne for Piano by Francis Poulenc
Performer:
Olivier Cazal (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1937; France
Date of Recording: 08/1995
Venue: Fisher Hall, Santa Rosa, California
Length: 1 Minutes 45 Secs.
9.
Valse for Piano by Francis Poulenc
Performer:
Olivier Cazal (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1919; France
Date of Recording: 08/1995
Venue: Fisher Hall, Santa Rosa, California
Length: 1 Minutes 41 Secs.
Sound Samples
Nocturnes: I. Nocturne No. 1 in C major: Sans trainer
Nocturnes: II. Nocturne No. 2 in A major: Bal de jeunes filles - Tres anime
Nocturnes: III. Nocturne No. 3 in F major: Les cloches de Malines - Modere mais sans lenteur
Nocturnes: IV. Nocturne No. 4 in C minor: Bal fantome - Lent, tres las et piano
Nocturnes: V. Nocturne No. 5 in D minor: Phalenes - Presto misterioso
Nocturnes: VI. Nocturne No. 6 in F major: Tres calme mais sans trainer
Nocturnes: VII. Nocturne No. 7 in E flat major: Assez allant
Nocturnes: VIII. Nocturne No. 8: "Pour servir de Coda au Cycle" - Tres modere
Suite in C major: I. Prest
Suite in C major: II. Andante
Suite in C major: III. Vif
Promenades: I. A pied (Nonchalant)
Promenades: II. En auto (Tres agite)
Promenades: III. A cheval (Modere bien chante)
Promenades: IV. En bateau (Agite)
Promenades: V. En avion (Lent)
Promenades: VI. En autobus (Trepidant)
Promenades: VII. En voiture (Tres lent)
Promenades: VIII. En chemin de fer (Vif)
Promenades: IX. A bicyclette (Vite)
Promenades: X. En diligence (Lent)
Pastourelle: (L'Eventail de Jeanne): Modere, sans lenteur
Villageoises: I. Valse tryolienne (Gai)
Villageoises: II. Staccato (Pas vite)
Villageoises: III. Rustique (Vif et gai)
Villageoises: IV. Polka (Sans hate)
Villageoises: V. Petite ronde (Assez anime - tres rythme)
Villageoises: VI. Coda (Tempo primo)
Feuillets d'Album: I. Ariette (Decide)
Feuillets d'Album: II. Reve (Allegretto)
Feuillets d'Album: III. Gigue (Prestissimo)
2 Intermezzi: I. Intermezzi No. 1 in C major: Presto con fuoco
2 Intermezzi: II. Intermezzi No. 2 in D flat major: Assez modere mais sans lenteur
2 Intermezzi: III. Intermezzi No. 3 in A flat major: Tres allant, tout droit, sans aucun rubato
Bourree au pavillon d'Auvergne: Bourree au Pavillon d'Auvergne: Modere
Valse in C major: Valse: Assez vif
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