Biography (read more)
Francis Poulenc was a French composer and pianist of the twentieth century, born and largely based in Paris, with a country retreat at Noizay in the Loire valley. A member of the group of composers known as Les Six, he wrote extensively across genres, including songs, solo piano music, chamber and choral works, ballets, and operas, moving between witty, urbane pieces and deeply felt religious compositions such as his opera Dialogues des Carmélites and the Gloria. He died of a heart attack at his Paris apartment in 1963, at the age of 64.
Once dismissed by some critics as a lightweight entertainer, Poulenc is now recognized as one of the most distinctive French voices of his century, prized for combining melodic clarity and Gallic wit with genuine emotional and spiritual depth. Dialogues des Carmélites has become a staple of the modern operatic repertoire, and his songs remain central to the French mélodie tradition. An early champion of recorded music, he helped bring his own works and those of his contemporaries to wide audiences through the gramophone.
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Repertoire
Les chemins de l`amour FP 106 (Transcr. for Cello & Piano)
Performed by Jaemin Han (Han Jaemin, 한재민)
Voyage à Paris
Nocturnes, Improvisations, Mélancolie, Pièces, Nazelles, Valse— Gabriel Tacchino
Performed by Gabriel Tacchino
Banalités, FP 107: I. Chanson d’Orkenise (Live at Théâtre de l’Athénée)— Stéphane Degout
Performed by Stéphane Degout
Banalités, FP 107: II. Hôtel (Live at Théâtre de l’Athénée)— Stéphane Degout
Performed by Stéphane Degout
Banalités, FP 107: III. Fagnes de Wallonie (Live at Théâtre de l’Athénée)— Stéphane Degout
Performed by Stéphane Degout
Banalités, FP 107: IV. Voyage à Paris (Live at Théâtre de l’Athénée)— Stéphane Degout
Performed by Stéphane Degout
Banalités, FP 107: V. Sanglots (Live at Théâtre de l’Athénée)— Stéphane Degout
Performed by Stéphane Degout
Aubade, FP 51: I. Toccata – Lento e pesante – Molot animato— Howard Shelley
Performed by Howard Shelley
Aubade, FP 51: III. Rondeau – “Diane et compagnes” – Allegro— Howard Shelley
Performed by Howard Shelley
Aubade, FP 51: VI. Récitatif – “Introduction à la Variation de Diane” – Larghetto— Howard Shelley
Performed by Howard Shelley
Aubade, FP 51: VII. “Variation de Diane” – Andante con moto— Howard Shelley
Performed by Howard Shelley
Aubade, FP 51: VIII. “Désespoir de Diane” – Allegro féroce— Howard Shelley
Performed by Howard Shelley
Aubade, FP 51: IX. Conclusion – “Adieux et départ de Diane” – Adagio— Howard Shelley
Performed by Howard Shelley
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano in B-Flat Major, FP 184: I. Allegro tristamente— Jos Van Immerseel
Performed by Jos Van Immerseel
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano in B-Flat Major, FP 184: II. Romanza— Jos Van Immerseel
Performed by Jos Van Immerseel
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano in B-Flat Major, FP 184: III. Allegro con fuoco— Jos Van Immerseel
Performed by Jos Van Immerseel
Suite française d’après Claude Gervaise, FP. 80: I. Bransle de Bourgogne— André Previn
Performed by André Previn
Suite française d’après Claude Gervaise, FP. 80: III. Petite marche militaire— André Previn
Performed by André Previn
Suite française d’après Claude Gervaise, FP. 80: IV. Complainte— André Previn
Performed by André Previn
Suite française d’après Claude Gervaise, FP. 80: V. Bransle de Champagne— André Previn
Performed by André Previn
Suite française d’après Claude Gervaise, FP. 80: VI. Sicilienne— André Previn
Performed by André Previn
Suite française d’après Claude Gervaise, FP. 80: VII. Carillon— André Previn
Performed by André Previn
Calligrammes, FP 140: I. L’espionne (Live at Théâtre de l’Athénée)— Stéphane Degout
Performed by Stéphane Degout
Calligrammes, FP 140: II. Mutation (Live at Théâtre de l’Athénée)— Stéphane Degout
Performed by Stéphane Degout
Calligrammes, FP 140: III. Vers le sud (Live at Théâtre de l’Athénée)— Stéphane Degout
Performed by Stéphane Degout
Calligrammes, FP 140: IV. Il pleut (Live at Théâtre de l’Athénée)— Stéphane Degout
Performed by Stéphane Degout
Calligrammes, FP 140: V. La grâce exilée (Live at Théâtre de l’Athénée)— Stéphane Degout
Performed by Stéphane Degout
Calligrammes, FP 140: VI. Aussi bien que les cigales (Live at Théâtre de l’Athénée)— Stéphane Degout
Performed by Stéphane Degout
Calligrammes, FP 140: VII. Voyage (Live at Théâtre de l’Athénée)— Stéphane Degout
Performed by Stéphane Degout
Le travail du peintre, FP 161: III. George Braque— Nathalie Stutzmann
Performed by Nathalie Stutzmann
Le travail du peintre, FP 161: VII. Jacques Villon— Nathalie Stutzmann
Performed by Nathalie Stutzmann
Suite des Animaux modèles, FP 111b: I. Petit jour— Alexis Weissenberg
Performed by Alexis Weissenberg
Suite des Animaux modèles, FP 111b: II. Le lion amoureux— Alexis Weissenberg
Performed by Alexis Weissenberg
Suite des Animaux modèles, FP 111b: III. L’homme entre deux âges et ses deux maîtresses— Alexis Weissenberg
Performed by Alexis Weissenberg
Suite des Animaux modèles, FP 111b: IV. La mort et le bûcheron— Alexis Weissenberg
Performed by Alexis Weissenberg
Suite des Animaux modèles, FP 111b: V. Le combat des deux coqs— Alexis Weissenberg
Performed by Alexis Weissenberg
Suite des Animaux modèles, FP 111b: VI. Le repas de midi— Alexis Weissenberg
Performed by Alexis Weissenberg
Le bestiaire, FP 15: I. Le dromadaire (Live at Théâtre de l’Athénée)— Stéphane Degout
Performed by Stéphane Degout
Le bestiaire, FP 15: II. La chèvre du Tibet (Live at Théâtre de l’Athénée)— Stéphane Degout
Performed by Stéphane Degout
Le bestiaire, FP 15: III. La sauterelle (Live at Théâtre de l’Athénée)— Stéphane Degout
Performed by Stéphane Degout
Le bestiaire, FP 15: IV. Le dauphin (Live at Théâtre de l’Athénée)— Stéphane Degout
Performed by Stéphane Degout
Le bestiaire, FP 15: V. L’écrevisse (Live at Théâtre de l’Athénée)— Stéphane Degout
Performed by Stéphane Degout
Le bestiaire, FP 15: VI. La carpe (Live at Théâtre de l’Athénée)— Stéphane Degout
Performed by Stéphane Degout
Sonata for Piano Four-Hands, FP 8: I. Prélude. Modéré (Live)— Martha Argerich
Performed by Martha Argerich
Sonata for Piano Four-Hands, FP 8: II. Rustique. Naïf et lent (Live)— Martha Argerich
Performed by Martha Argerich
Sonata for Piano Four-Hands, FP 8: III. Final. Très vite (Live)— Martha Argerich
Performed by Martha Argerich
Piano Sonata for 4-Hands, FP 8: I. Prélude. Modéré (Live)— Martha Argerich
Performed by Martha Argerich
Piano Sonata for 4-Hands, FP 8: II. Rustique. Naïf et lent (Live)— Martha Argerich
Performed by Martha Argerich
Piano Sonata for 4-Hands, FP 8: III. Final. Très vite (Live)— Martha Argerich
Performed by Martha Argerich
Poulenc: Rapsodie nègre, FP 3: III. Honoloulou. Intermède vocal— Bengt Forsberg
Performed by Bengt Forsberg
Les fiancailles pour rire, FP 101: I. La dame d’André— Nathalie Stutzmann
Performed by Nathalie Stutzmann
Les fiancailles pour rire, FP 101: II. Dans l’herbe— Nathalie Stutzmann
Performed by Nathalie Stutzmann
Les fiancailles pour rire, FP 101: IV. Mon cadavre est doux come un gant— Nathalie Stutzmann
Performed by Nathalie Stutzmann
Concerto for Two Pianos in D Minor, FP 61: I. Allegro ma non troppo— Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Performed by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Poulenc: Concerto for 2 Pianos, FP 61: I. Allegro ma non troppo (Live at Palazzo dei Congressi,…— Martha Argerich
Performed by Martha Argerich
Poulenc: Concerto for 2 Pianos, FP 61: II. Larghetto (Live at Palazzo dei Congressi, Lugano, 2006)— Martha Argerich
Performed by Martha Argerich
Poulenc: Concerto for 2 Pianos, FP 61: III. Finale. Allegro molto (Live at Palazzo dei…— Martha Argerich
Performed by Martha Argerich
Sinfonietta, FP 141: IV. Finale – Prestissimo et très gai— Howard Shelley
Performed by Howard Shelley
Quatre poèmes de Guillaume Apollinaire, FP 58: I. L’anguille (Live at Théâtre de l’Athénée)— Stéphane Degout
Performed by Stéphane Degout
Quatre poèmes de Guillaume Apollinaire, FP 58: II. Carte-postale (Live at Théâtre de…— Stéphane Degout
Performed by Stéphane Degout
Quatre poèmes de Guillaume Apollinaire, FP 58: III. Avant le cinéma (Live at Théâtre de…— Stéphane Degout
Performed by Stéphane Degout
Quatre poèmes de Guillaume Apollinaire, FP 58: IV. 1904 (Live at Théâtre de l’Athénée)— Stéphane Degout
Performed by Stéphane Degout
Sonata for cello and piano: I. Allegro – Tempo di Marcia— Alexandre Tharaud
Performed by Alexandre Tharaud
Cello Sonata, FP 143: I. Allegro – Tempo di marcia (Live)— Martha Argerich
Performed by Martha Argerich
Sextet for Wind Quintet & Piano, FP 100: II. Divertissement (Andantino)— Ralf Gothóni
Performed by Ralf Gothóni
Sextet for Wind Quintet & Piano, FP 100: III. Finale (Prestissimo)— Ralf Gothóni
Performed by Ralf Gothóni
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano : I. Allegro tristamente— Michel Dalberto
Performed by Michel Dalberto
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano : III. Allegro con fuoco— Michel Dalberto
Performed by Michel Dalberto
Flute Sonata, FP 164: I. Allegretto malinconico (Arr. Berkeley for Orchestra)— Emmanuel Pahud
Performed by Emmanuel Pahud
Flute Sonata, FP 164: II. Cantilena. Assez lent (Arr. Berkeley for Orchestra)— Emmanuel Pahud
Performed by Emmanuel Pahud
Flute Sonata, FP 164: III. Presto giocoso (Arr. Berkeley for Orchestra)— Emmanuel Pahud
Performed by Emmanuel Pahud
3 Pieces, FP 48: Toccata (Trois pieces pour piano, No. 2)— Vladimir Horowitz
Performed by Vladimir Horowitz
Chansons gaillardes, FP 42: No. 4, Invocation aux Parques— Jean-Philippe Collard
Performed by Jean-Philippe Collard
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar – 2. Dans la grande forêt un petit éléphant est né— Jean-Marc Luisada
Performed by Jean-Marc Luisada
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar – 4. Au bout de quelques jours— Jean-Marc Luisada
Performed by Jean-Marc Luisada
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar – 5. Maintenant Babar habite chez la vieille dame— Jean-Marc Luisada
Performed by Jean-Marc Luisada
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar – 6. Deux années ont passé— Jean-Marc Luisada
Performed by Jean-Marc Luisada
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar – 7. Babar se décide à partir— Jean-Marc Luisada
Performed by Jean-Marc Luisada
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar – 8. Le même jour, hélas, le roi des éléphants— Jean-Marc Luisada
Performed by Jean-Marc Luisada
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar – 9. Après l’enterrement— Jean-Marc Luisada
Performed by Jean-Marc Luisada
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar – 10. Mariage de Babar— Jean-Marc Luisada
Performed by Jean-Marc Luisada
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar – 11. La fête est finie— Jean-Marc Luisada
Performed by Jean-Marc Luisada
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant, FP 129: No. 1, Introduction (Live)— Michel Dalberto
Performed by Michel Dalberto
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant, FP 129: No. 2, Dans la grande forêt (Live)— Michel Dalberto
Performed by Michel Dalberto
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant, FP 129: No. 3, Babar a grandi (Live)— Michel Dalberto
Performed by Michel Dalberto
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant, FP 129: No. 4, Babar se promène très…— Michel Dalberto
Performed by Michel Dalberto
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant, FP 129: No. 5, Tour à coup, un vilain…— Michel Dalberto
Performed by Michel Dalberto
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant, FP 129: No. 6, Au bout de quelques jours (Live)— Michel Dalberto
Performed by Michel Dalberto
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant, FP 129: No. 7, Maintenant Babar habite chez…— Michel Dalberto
Performed by Michel Dalberto
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant, FP 129: No. 8, Tous les jours il se promène…— Michel Dalberto
Performed by Michel Dalberto
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant, FP 129: No. 9, Pourtant Babar n’est pas tout…— Michel Dalberto
Performed by Michel Dalberto
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant, FP 129: No. 10, Deux années ont passé (Live)— Michel Dalberto
Performed by Michel Dalberto
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant, FP 129: No. 11, Ensuite il les emmène chez…— Michel Dalberto
Performed by Michel Dalberto
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant, FP 129: No. 12, Pendant ce temps, dans la…— Michel Dalberto
Performed by Michel Dalberto
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant, FP 129: No. 13, Heureusement, en volant sur…— Michel Dalberto
Performed by Michel Dalberto
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant, FP 129: No. 14, Les mamans d’Arthur et de…— Michel Dalberto
Performed by Michel Dalberto
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant, FP 129: No. 15, Babar se décide à partir…— Michel Dalberto
Performed by Michel Dalberto
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant, FP 129: No. 16, Ils sont partis … (Live)— Michel Dalberto
Performed by Michel Dalberto
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant, FP 129: No. 17, Le même jour, hélas (Live)— Michel Dalberto
Performed by Michel Dalberto
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant, FP 129: No. 18, Après l’enterrement (Live)— Michel Dalberto
Performed by Michel Dalberto
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant, FP 129: No. 19, Babar dit alors à Cornelius…— Michel Dalberto
Performed by Michel Dalberto
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant, FP 129: No. 20, Les invités commencement à…— Michel Dalberto
Performed by Michel Dalberto
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant, FP 129: No. 21, Mariage de Babar (Live)— Michel Dalberto
Performed by Michel Dalberto
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant, FP 129: No. 22, Après le mariage et le…— Michel Dalberto
Performed by Michel Dalberto
Poulenc: L’Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant, FP 129: No. 23, La fête est finie (Live)— Michel Dalberto
Performed by Michel Dalberto
XVème Improvisation in C Minor, FP 176 “Hommage à Edith Piaf”— Cyprien Katsaris
Performed by Cyprien Katsaris
Léocadia, FP 106: No. 1, Les chemins de l’amour (Arr. for Piano)— Cyprien Katsaris
Performed by Cyprien Katsaris
Chansons gaillardes: No. 8, Serenade (Arr. M. Gendron)— Steven Isserlis
Performed by Steven Isserlis
Pastourelle, FP 45: L’Eventail de Jeanne, No. 8, Pastourelle— Vladimir Horowitz
Performed by Vladimir Horowitz
2 Poèmes de Guillaume Apollinaire, FP 94: No. 1, Dans le jardin d’Anna— Ian Bostridge
Performed by Ian Bostridge
2 Poèmes de Guillaume Apollinaire, FP 94: No. 2, Allons plus vite— Ian Bostridge
Performed by Ian Bostridge
Tel jour, telle nuit, FP 86: No. 2, Une ruine coquille vide— Ian Bostridge
Performed by Ian Bostridge
Tel jour, telle nuit, FP 86: No. 3, Le front comme un drapeau perdu— Ian Bostridge
Performed by Ian Bostridge
Tel jour, telle nuit, FP 86: No. 4, Une roulotte couverte en tuiles— Ian Bostridge
Performed by Ian Bostridge
Tel jour, telle nuit, FP 86: No. 7, Je n’ai envie que de t’aimer— Ian Bostridge
Performed by Ian Bostridge
Tel jour, telle nuit, FP 86: No. 8, Figure de force brûlante et farouche— Ian Bostridge
Performed by Ian Bostridge
Tel jour, telle nuit, FP 86: No. 9, Nous avons fait la nuit— Ian Bostridge
Performed by Ian Bostridge
Les Chansons Villageoises, FP 117a: III. C’est le joli printemps— Nathalie Stutzmann
Performed by Nathalie Stutzmann
Deux mélodies sur des poèmes de Louis Aragon, FP 122: I. C— Nathalie Stutzmann
Performed by Nathalie Stutzmann