Francis Poulenc Birth Anniversary

French composer and member of Le Six, Francis Poulenc was born on January 7th 1899, (d 1963).

His music encompassed an extensive range from solo works for voices and instruments through to grand pieces for choir, opera, ballet and orchestra. It speaks with humour, drama, ethereal beauty and an inimitable French aesthetic.

Here are some links to You Tube clips of his works to take you through the day! Enjoy!

Watch Poulenc perform in this archival video of his concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC4kJiTHTtQ (1st movement)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2B5xTGInzI (2nd movement)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7j7Vss8BSI (3rd movement)

Dialogues of the Carmelites Poulenc’s second opera (1956). This is a La Scala production from 2004 conducted by Ricardo Muti

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFbguFfp1So

The Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, premiered posthumously in June 1963, performed by Benny Goodman and Leonard Bernstein.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxJgjCh90C0

Cocardes song cycle to poems by Jean Cocteau

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYMrQ74VfiE

The piece de resistance Poulenc’s Gloria:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2_WpgQljO4