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Poulenc, Francis : Concerto for 2 Pianos in D minorPoulenc, Francis : Concerto Champêtre for HarpsichordPoulenc, Francis : Concerto for Organ, Strings and Timpani in G minorAlbum Summary
Poulenc, Francis : Concerto for 2 Pianos in D minorPoulenc, Francis : Concerto Champêtre for HarpsichordPoulenc, Francis : Concerto for Organ, Strings and Timpani in G minor- Yaara Tal (Piano)
- Babette Haag (Percussion)
- Andreas Groethuysen (Piano)
- Peter Kofler (Harpsichord)
- Babette Haag (Timpani)
- Hansjörg Albrecht (Organ)
Reviews
A wonderful new look at three Poulenc keyboard concertos
This OEHM Classics disc contains three keyboard concertos by the great French composer Francis Poulenc (1899-1963). Only one is performed in its original form, the Concerto in G minor for Organ, Strings and timpani. It is a splendid performance, vibrant, tender, exciting and beautifully recorded, as are the other works on this disc. All three works are conducted from the organ, a magnificent instrument located in the Great Concert Hall of the College of Music and Drama in Munich, by Hansjörg Albrecht. The strings of the Bach Collegium München are in perfect balance with the sounds of the organ, and timpanist, Babette Haag, is first class. In short, a performance nothing short of amazing.
The other two concertos are performed in transcriptions by Albrecht in which the organ, with the help of a percussionist - the only orchestral part that cannot be reproduced by the organ - plays the orchestral part. These transcriptions are immensely successful and while the sonorities are different from the original, nothing of the music is lost. Quite the contrary, there is an intimacy to these performances that is very reminiscent of the finest aspects of chamber music.
The Concert Champêtre for Harpsichord and Orchestra was written for harpsichordist Wanda Landowska who premiered the work in 1929 with Pierre Monteux conducting. This version, for harpsichord, organ and percussion, is one of the best I've heard. The Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra, one of the finest duo piano works ever penned, is thrilling and transparent. Every note can be heard and the two pianos maintain their own identity such that the intricacies of the interaction between them can be heard clearly.
I cannot recommend this disc highly enough. For those who possess recordings of this music in its original form, this is a wonderful addition to their libraries. For those who do not, what a perfect way to discover this marvelous music.
The disc itself is a Stereo/Multichannel Hybrid SACD, playable on SACD, CD and DVD players. The sound is extraordinarily clear and beautiful with an excellent soundstage. Total timing of the disc is 67:13.
Submitted on 03/07/10 by Leni Bogat
Submitted on 03/07/10 by Leni Bogat
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Works Details
Poulenc, Francis : Concerto for 2 Pianos in D minor - Performers: Hansjörg Albrecht (Organ); Yaara Tal (Piano); Babette Haag (Percussion); Andreas Groethuysen (Piano)
- Ensemble: Bach Collegium Munich
- Running Time: 19 min. 23 sec.
- Period Time: Modern
- Form: Concerto
- Written: 1932
Poulenc, Francis : Concerto Champêtre for Harpsichord - Performers: Hansjörg Albrecht (Organ); Peter Kofler (Harpsichord); Babette Haag (Percussion)
- Ensemble: Bach Collegium Munich
- Notes: Hochschule für Musik und Theater, Munich (04/15/2009-04/16/2009)
- Running Time: 25 min. 13 sec.
- Period Time: Modern
- Form: Concerto
- Written: 1927-1928
Poulenc, Francis : Concerto for Organ, Strings and Timpani in G minor - Performers: Hansjörg Albrecht (Organ); Babette Haag (Timpani)
- Ensemble: Bach Collegium Munich
- Notes: Hochschule für Musik und Theater, Munich (04/15/2009-04/16/2009)
- Running Time: 21 min. 54 sec.
- Period Time: Modern
- Form: Concerto
- Written: 1938
