Poulenc Concerto for two pianos

[jayne lee wilson]

Peering at the booklet notes, there appear to be two classic versions with Poulenc and Jacques Fevrier as soloists: a mono one from 1958 conducted by Pierre Dervaux, and a stereo one from 1962 with the great Georges Pretre. You have to have one of these before considering any other, but I'm surprised no-one has mentioned the excellent Dutoit/Philharmonia version with Pascal Roge and Sylviane Deferne, from Walthamstow in 1992. It has a more relaxed, lyrical feel than the Poulenc-led pair, but succeeds brilliantly on its own terms with a sound of great depth and beauty, pianos especially well caught. Really hard to stop listening to this one, as with most of Dutoit's Poulenc (outstanding Sinfonietta). Really, Dutoit is the natural successor to Pretre in this repertoire.

Mono or stereo in Paris? Ah, I'd have to listen to them again... and there is that Rattle Bruckner 9 to get to grips with...

[Thomas Roth]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Poulenc-Vocal-Chamber-Orchestral-Works/dp/B0000042DK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339583953&sr=8-1

[PJPJ]

Mono or stereo in Paris? Ah, I'd have to listen to them again... ....

It's really much easier all round to have both. But, you and Thomas are right, Dutoit is also first-class, and the Decca Double has the added bonus of George Malcolm in other works.

Forced to pick just the one, for me it would have to be Le Beau Georges at the helm. The luxury of choice, from several gems.

[MickyD]

Yes! I love this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...e=UTF8&s=music

It was an Erato release and unavailable for a long time - glad to see it's back on Apex. The download is silly value at £2.79

For me this music is the South of France: always have it on if I'm near or upon the Mediterranean

(Was reminded travelling home just now how much I also love the harpsichord concerto, 'Champêtre', played in full on COTW. Haven't listened to that for years)

Originally there was a companion CD to this on Erato, Caliban, with Ton Koopman playing the harpsichord concerto and Marie-Claire Alan playing the Organ Concerto. Did that make it to Apex as well, I wonder? I still have both discs and return to them often.