Search - Francis Poulenc, Paris Wind Quintet, Jacques Fevrier :: Poulenc: Chamber Music

Wistfully out the Window

Maxwell D. Ochs | Severna Park, MD | 03/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Don't tell everybody or we will lose Poulenc, who died in 1963 (!) as our secret treasure. When someone gets too famous, they might stop being special. But you must be used to it by now. Always liking authors, singer-songwriters composers, for a long time before they became ridiculously famous. Maybe I'm not traveling in the right circles, because most peoiple I mention this music to look blank and even if they pretend to have heard of Poulenc, you know they haven't perceived Poulenc as a six year old boy, going on seven, standing by himself looking out at the wide world from the edge of the yard, or morphed into his mother, curtain in hand, looking out the window at the boy. The oboe and piano, the flute and piano, what a joy it is to be reunited with these old friends. How this music flies from high energy ruckus in a flurry to the most poignant middle movement, a joyful meditation, slowing everything way down, slower. slower, until you are the mountain, keeping still, as the clarinet clown with broken heart passionately woos the piano. Listen - the clarinet and piano in hushed tones exhange vows. Right now this CD is my most oft played, but this morning I had to take it off, I didn't want to use it up too fast. I am saving it to savor in the company of friends."

Very nice playing from "Le quintet a vent de Paris"

Gaddiel | Israel | 05/07/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In particular, the sonate for horn trumpet and trombone is very well played!!!
All the members of the quintet are playing intensively with a lot of energy... But Portal seems to be a little agrressive in the clarinet sonate...
Menuhin is doing a great job with the violin sonate!!
Conclusion: very good!!"