The Sixteen, Harry Christophers - Poulenc: Choral Works (2017)

Posted By: SERTiL

Date: Sept. 5, 2017

Francis Poulenc is considered one of the greatest melodists of the 20th century but it is his individual and immediately recognisable harmonic language that makes his music so distinctive. Often overlooked in his lifetime and in the years after his death, his sacred music was an expression of his more serious side and, following the death of his close friend, Pierre-Octave Ferroud, a re-awakening of his religious faith. The Sixteens new recording centres round the themes of conflict and atonement, reflecting both Poulencs intense internal struggles and the turbulence of life in France during the mid-20th century.

As discs of Poulenc's choral music go, this is about as good as it gets. It's gratifying to see that this composer's reputation doesn't seem to have nosedived, and that a figure described by critic Virgil Thompson as the 20th century's greatest melodist is as popular as ever. The brilliant tunes are only half the story; what's key is where they're placed, and that there's never any trace of sentimentality. Drama, solemnity and sheer joy: all are present in spades….The Sixteen combine fearless accuracy with affecting warmth; one can't imagine this music being better performed. You'd want to rescue this CD from a burning building, and the recording quality is glorious. –Arts Desk, Apr'17

Any new recording from The Sixteen is going to be well worth hearing. It almost goes without saying that the singing will be of a technical standard beyond reproach, while Harry Christopher's innate musicianship will ensure a performance of supreme artistic worth. This latest release does not disappoint. This is a sumptuous recording of flawless singing and intense music-making…the fullness of the choral sound is hard to beat and their rhythmically exhilarating Gloria is the stuff of dreams. –Gramophone, April'17

The loss of companion Pierre-Octave Ferroud reawakened Poulenc's religious faith and led him to write some glorious music, touched equally with sadness and with hope. The Sixteen perfectly convey that combination in a nuanced and faithful version of motets and other pieces… /// This well recorded programme features some of the finest in performances that are idiomatic, and technically accomplished. ///We are not short of fine recordings of Poulenc's sacred music, but this well recorded programme features some of the finest in performances that are idiomatic, and technically accomplished. Rarely have the challenges the composer sets his singers been surmounted with such panache, while the painful beauty of his motets has rarely been captured as purely as here./// –Choir and Organ, May/June'17/// Classical Music, May'17/// BBC Music Magazine, July'17

TRACKLIST
1 Salve Regina in G Minor, FP 110
2 Quatre Motets pour un temps de pénitence, FP 97 : I. Timor et tremor
3 Quatre Motets pour un temps de pénitence, FP 97 : II. Vinea mea electa
4 Quatre Motets pour un temps de pénitence, FP 97 : III. Tenebræ factæ sunt
5 Quatre Motets pour un temps de pénitence, FP 97 : IV. Tristis est anima mea
6 Litanies à la Vierge Noire, FP 82
7 Quatre Motets pour le temps de Noël, FP 152 : I. O magnum mysterium
8 Quatre Motets pour le temps de Noël, FP 152 : II. Quem vidistis pastores dicite
9 Quatre Motets pour le temps de Noël, FP 152 : III. Videntes stellam
10 Quatre Motets pour le temps de Noël, FP 152 : IV. Hodie Christus natus est
11 Un soir de neige, FP 126 : I. De grandes cuillers neige
12 Un soir de neige, FP 126 : II. La bonne neige
13 Un soir de neige, FP 126 : III. Bois meurtri
14 Un soir de neige, FP 126 : IV. La nuit le froid la solitude
15 Ave verum corpus, FP 154
16 Mass in G Major, FP 89 : I. Kyrie
17 Mass in G Major, FP 89 : II. Gloria
18 Mass in G Major, FP 89 : III. Sanctus
19 Mass in G Major, FP 89 : IV. Benedictus
20 Mass in G Major, FP 89 : V. Agnus Dei

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