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Poulenc's Soprano

Composer of the Week Francis Poulenc (1899-1963)
Episode 5 of 5

Donald Macleod explores Poulenc's performing partnership with soprano Denise Duval, for whom he created the role of Blanche in Les dialogues des Carmelites.

Poulenc's performing partnership with soprano Denise Duval, for whom he created the role of Blanche in Les dialogues des Carmélites.

Poulenc could claim many of the leading performers, artists and patrons of the day among his circle of friends. This week Donald Macleod looks at some of the more significant of those friendships and explores how these associations led to artistic collaborations, starting with one of the earliest, with pianist Ricardo Viñes, followed by harpsichordist Wanda Landowska, poet Paul Éluard and singers baritone Pierre Bernac and soprano Denise Duval.

Poulenc always thought of himself as a product of the prevailing artistic climate of Paris. Born in 1899, he grew up in cultured and comfortable surroundings. His father and two uncles ran a company manufacturing high quality industrial chemicals, while his mother was an accomplished amateur musician, who gave the young Poulenc his first piano lessons. However, Poulenc did not follow the orthodox route of musical training by attending either the Paris Conservatoire or the Schola Cantorum. His artistic associations often came about through his social connections.

In the final part of his survey Donald Macleod looks at the artistic collaboration Poulenc enjoyed with the soprano Denise Duval. As well as touring with Poulenc giving recitals, Duval created the solo roles in La voix humaine and La dame de Monte-Carlo and it was for Duval's voice that Poulenc made the role of Blanche de la Force in Les dialogues des Carmélites.

1 hour

Last on

Fri 22 Jul 2016 18:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Francis Poulenc

    Dialogues Des Carmelites - Oh! Mon pere

  • Francis Poulenc

    Dialogues Des Carmelites - Oh! Mon pere

  • Francis Poulenc

    Les Mamelles De Tiresias - Opera-Bouffe

    Singer: Barbara Bonney. Singer: Jean-Paul Fouchécourt. Choir: Tokyo Opera Singers. Orchestra: Saito Kinen Orchestra. Conductor: Seiji Ozawa.
    • PHILIPS : Philips-4565042.
    • PHILIPS.
    • 2.

  • Francis Poulenc

    Les Mamelles De Tiresias - Opera-Bouffe

    Singer: Barbara Bonney. Singer: Jean-Paul Fouchécourt. Choir: Tokyo Opera Singers. Orchestra: Saito Kinen Orchestra. Conductor: Seiji Ozawa.
    • PHILIPS : Philips-4565042.
    • PHILIPS.
    • 2.

  • Francis Poulenc

    Sinfonietta - Finale

    Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia. Conductor: Richard Hickox.
    • Virgin Classics: VC54502828.
    • Virgin Classics.
    • 15.

  • Francis Poulenc

    Sinfonietta - Finale

    Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia. Conductor: Richard Hickox.
    • Virgin Classics: VC54502828.
    • Virgin Classics.
    • 15.

  • Francis Poulenc

    La Voix Humaine - Tragedie Lyrique In 1 Act

    Singer: Denise Duval. Orchestra: Orchestre du Théâtre National de l’Opéra‐Comique. Conductor: Georges Prêtre.
    • EMI : 5 65156 2.
    • EMI.
    • 1.

  • Francis Poulenc

    La Voix Humaine - Tragedie Lyrique In 1 Act

    Singer: Denise Duval. Orchestra: Orchestre du Théâtre National de l’Opéra‐Comique. Conductor: Georges Prêtre.
    • EMI : 5 65156 2.
    • EMI.
    • 1.

  • Francis Poulenc

    Sonata For Oboe And Piano

    Performer: Olivier Doise. Performer: Alexandre Tharaud.
    • NAXOS : 8.55-3611.
    • NAXOS.
    • 4.

  • Francis Poulenc

    Sonata For Oboe And Piano

    Performer: Olivier Doise. Performer: Alexandre Tharaud.
    • NAXOS : 8.55-3611.
    • NAXOS.
    • 4.

  • Francis Poulenc

    Dialogues Des Carmelites - Tableau 4

    Singer: Catherine Dubosc. Singer: Brigitte Fournier. Choir: London Chorus. Orchestra: Lyon Opera Orchestra. Choir: Lyon Opera Chorus. Conductor: Kent Nagano.
    • VIRGIN CLASSICS : VCD-759227-2/A&B.
    • VIRGIN CLASSICS.
    • 28.

  • Francis Poulenc

    Dialogues Des Carmelites - Tableau 4

    Singer: Catherine Dubosc. Singer: Brigitte Fournier. Choir: London Chorus. Orchestra: Lyon Opera Orchestra. Choir: Lyon Opera Chorus. Conductor: Kent Nagano.
    • VIRGIN CLASSICS : VCD-759227-2/A&B.
    • VIRGIN CLASSICS.
    • 28.

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