Search - Francis Poulenc, Olivier Cazal :: Poulenc: Piano Music, Vol. 2

Fabulous music expressively done

R. Doyle Gillespie | Arvada, Colorado | 01/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Poulenc's marvellously light touch in composition is (generally) equalled by the expressive playing on this CD. Track 9 is absolutely outstanding; I have repeated it as many as 6 times in a row. Some of the more marcato pieces are a trifle overdone, but this is fabulous music well played."

Completely inappropriate style

R. Doyle Gillespie | 10/20/2003

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this CD hoping to learn more about Poulenc's piano music, since I am most familiar with the vocal works and chamber music. As it turns out, M. Cazal has no affinity for Poulenc's style, and I cannot listen to this disc for too long before I start to feel assaulted! Every attack is aggressive, there is no time for the music to breathe, some of the loud parts sound actually violent, and the phrasing can be so incredibly square that one gets the impression that the pianist actually resents Poulenc. Where is the humor, the finesse, the gentleness, the genuine passion, the poignancy? Truly disappointing."

Beautiful music, sensitively played

Gontroppo | Bathurst, NSW Australia | 01/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are some terrific pieces of music in this collection. We were privileged to hear M. Cazal play in a relatively small theatre in Penrith [outer Sydney suburb], soon after the 1992 Sydney International Piano Competition, in which he won the People's Prize. I don't recall him playing any Poulenc back then, but we were enthralled by his performance.Maybe Pascal Roge has the edge here, but we thoroughly enjoy this CD and the first CD in the set of 3.We especially like his performance of the Suite Francaise and the Three Perpetual Movements.I would be surprised if you do not also enjoy listening to these recordings."