Poulenc: Sacred & Secular Choral Works [Original recording remastered]

Francis Poulenc (Composer), John Alldis (Conductor), Marie-Claire Alain (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Marie-Claire Alain
• Conductor: John Alldis
• Composer: Francis Poulenc
• Audio CD (August 10, 2004)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B0001RVQLE
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #450,938 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Exultate Deo, Motet pour Les Fetes Solennelles

2. Litanies A La Vierge Noire - Marie-Claire Alain

3. No.1 Timor Et Tremor

4. No.2 Vinea Mea Electa

5. No.3 Tenebrae Factae Sunt

6. No.4 Tristis Est Anima Mea

7. Salve Regina

8. O Jesu

9. O Proles

10. Laus Regi

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. No.1 La Blance Neige

2. No.2 A Peine Defiguree

3. No.3 Par Une Nuit Nouvelle

4. No.4 Tous Les Droits

5. No.5 Belle Et Ressemblante

6. No.6 Marie

7. No.7 Luire

8. De Tous Les Printemps Du Monde

9. En Chantant Les Servantes S'Elancent

10. Aussi Bas Que Le Silence

See all 28 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I Will Nevertheless Give It Another Go, July 4, 2005

By 

BLee "bpslee" (HK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Poulenc: Sacred & Secular Choral Works (Audio CD)

Needless to say, I haven't given this album enough time. Actually, I haven't given Poulenc or even French music as a whole enough time. The first time I heard these two CDs, I thought I must have the two mixed up as the secular sounds more sacred to my ears whereas the secular is sacred enough! Didn't Tortelier, one of the century's greatest cellists, advised his students to stay away from French music albeit the reason given was the audience like Mozart and Beethoven more? Perhaps I also fall within this category...

There is nothing wrong with the recording it is actually quite nice. But the voices are all quite outstanding from the rest! I have heard some foreigners singing Poulenc quite differently. Perhaps the latter was not exactly a French reading, for I have heard some French Baroque music by Couperin and some French organ music that sound like them. Or, perhaps I have been listening to too much Brahms' chorales lately getting too serious in terms of taste. And in any event, despite my love for Debussy, Ravel, Faure... I don't know what to make out of this album-- at least not as yet. Perhaps I just need to give them some more time: this is a French choir singing their own music after all!