László Borbély - Extremes of The Soul - Selected Piano Works by Francis Poulenc (2025) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist

01. Poulenc Novelette in C Major, FP 47I
02. Poulenc Novelette in B-Flat Minor, FP 47II
03. Poulenc Novelette in E Minor, On a theme by Manuel de Falla, FP 173
04. Poulenc Intermezzo No 1 in C Major, FP 71I
05. Poulenc Intermezzo No 2 in D-Flat Major, FP 71II
06. Poulenc Intermezzo No 3 in A-Flat Major, FP 118
07. Poulenc Melancolie, FP 105
08. Poulenc Nocturne No 1 in C Major, FP 56
09. Poulenc Nocturne No 2 in A Major, (Bal de jeunes filles), FP 56
10. Poulenc Nocturne No 3 in F Major, (Les Cloches de Malines), FP 56
11. Poulenc Nocturne No 4 in C Minor, (Bal fantome), FP 56
12. Poulenc Nocturne No 5 in D Minor, (Phalenes), FP 56
13. Poulenc Nocturne No 6 in G Major, FP 56
14. Poulenc Nocturne No 7 in E-Flat Major, FP 56
15. Poulenc Nocturne No 8 in G Major, (Pour servir de Coda au Cycle), FP 56
16. Poulenc Theme varie, Theme, FP 151
17. Poulenc Theme varie – Variation I. Joyeuse, FP 151
18. Poulenc Theme varie – Variation II. Noble, FP 151
19. Poulenc Theme varie – Variation III. Pastorale, FP 151
20. Poulenc Theme varie – Variation IV. Sarcastique, FP 151
21. Poulenc Theme varie – Variation V. Melancolique, FP 151
22. Poulenc Theme varie – Variation VI. Ironique, FP 151
23. Poulenc Theme varie – Variation VII. Elegiaque, FP 151
24. Poulenc Theme varie – Variation VIII. Volubile, FP 151
25. Poulenc Theme varie – Variation IX. Fantasque, FP 151
26. Poulenc Theme varie – Variation X. Sybilline, FP 151
27. Poulenc Theme varie – Variation XI. Finale, FP 151
28. Poulenc Improvisation No 15 in C Minor, Hommage a Edith Piaf, FP 176

Poulenc's piano works, like his other works, have always captivated me, both with their unrelenting honesty and their fearless formal certainty.

Poulenc is brilliant at taking his listeners from one emotion to another, often without any transition. Poulenc's language is often glibly described as ‘light’ even by the musical public. But this view is only correct to the extent that one can objectively observe his personal life from within the palpable proximity of danger. This ‘predatory’ gaze pervades the French composer's work. The unvarnished honesty of Poulenc's music, which brilliantly blends tradition and progression, makes it astonishingly direct for all of us. (László Borbély)

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