Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) “Half Monk, Half Rascal” Part 2
This second part of our mini-series on songs by Francis Poulenc takes place in the “roaring twenties”, or as they say it in France: “Les Années Folles”. You will hear about his first collaboration with Pierre Bernac in “Chanson Gaillardes” and you will Bernac himself in “Banalités”. Poulenc once said: “No one will ever sing my songs better than Bernac. He knows the smallest secrets of my music. It was also through accompanying him in Schubert, Schumann, Fauré, Debussy and Ravel that I learnt my trade as a melodist”. Fortunately, Denise Duval, Gerard Souzay and Elly Ameling came after him. More about them in part 3 on 9 May.
1. Francis Poulenc – “Chansons gaillardes” FP42 (lyrics: anonymous)
a. ‘”La maîtresse volage” b. “Chanson a boire” c. “Madrigal” d. “Invocation aux Parques” e. ‘Couplets bachiques’ f. “Offrande” g. “La belle jeunesse” h. “Sérénade” Baritone Ashley Riches and pianist Graham Johnson
2. Francis Poulenc – I. “Epitaphe” FP55 (lyrics: François Malherbe) Bas Neal Davies and pianist Graham Johnson
II. “Trois Poèmes de Louise Lalanne” FP57 (lyrics: Marie Laurencin and Apollinaire) a. ’Le présent’ ( Marie Laurencin) b. “Chanson” (Apollinaire) c. “Hier” (Laurencin) Soprano Elly Ameling with pianist Dalton Baldwin
III. “Quatre poèmes de Guillaume Apollinaire” FP58 a. L’anguille b. “Carte postale” c. “Avant le cinéma” c. “1904” Baritone Ivan Ludlow and Graham Johnson piano
Guillaume Apollinaire
3. Francis Poulenc – “Banalités” FP107 (lyrics: Apollinaire) a. “Chanson d’Orkenise b. ‘Hôtel” c. “Fagnes de Wallonie” d. “Voyage à Paris” e. “Sanglots” Baritone Pierre Bernac and Francis Poulenc on piano.
4. “Histoire de Babar”, opening sentences spoken by Pierre Bernac.
5. Francis Poulenc – “La fraicheur et le feu” FP147 (lyrics: Paul Éluard) . 1. Rayon des yeux 2. Le Matin les branches attisent 3. Tout disparut 4. Dans les ténèbres du jardin 5. Unis la fraîcheur et le feu 6. Homme au sourire tendre 7. La grande rivière qui va.
Bariton Christopher Maltman and Graham Johnson on piano
6. Francis Poulenc – 1. “Les chemins de l’amour” FP106 (lyrics: Jean Anouilh) Alt Nathalie Stutzmann and Inger Södergren on piano 2. “Violon” from: Fiançailles pour rire (lyrics: Louise de Vilmorin)
Soprano Elly Ameling and pianist Rudolf Jansen
https://youtu.be/Owf0eW0I3CQ Francis Poulenc and Denise Duval
https://youtu.be/0rVLnQvF6FA Denise Duval about Poulenc (masterclass)
