The choral works of Francis Poulenc

[Daniel A]

I'm looking for recommendations for recordings of Francis Poulenc's choral works. I've got a nice CD set of three Decca albums covering all of the orchestral music (Orchestre National de France/Dutoit) so, if possible, I would like to try to avoid collections doubling this material as I'm satisfied with these recordings.

Edited December 14, 2010 by Daniel A

[Larry Kart]

A very good one imo:

http://www.amazon.com/Poulenc-Stabat-Gloria-Catherine-Richard/dp/B000F3T37I/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1292355998&sr=1-1

Here's a review of it:

http://www.gramophone.net/Issue/Page/February%201993/72/747460/POULENC.+Gloriaa.+Stabat+matera.+Litanies+agrave+la+Vierge+noire.nbsp

And a comparuson with a similar program by Dutoit:

http://www.gramophone.net/Issue/Page/April%201996/96/805248/OPoulenc+Gloriaa.+Stabat+matera.+Litanies+a+%28a+vierge+noireb.+aFrancoise+Poilet+%28sop%29+French+Radio+Choir+bMaItrise+de+Radio+France+French+National+Orchestra++Charles+Dutoit.

[MomsMobley]

Dutoit is mediocre in almost everything; I like Hickox-- he's livelier than most Limey choral conductors, maybe cuz he was Australian-- but check also

Eric Ericson cond Netherlands Chamber Choir--

http://www.amazon.com/Francis-Poulenc-Secular-Choral-Music/dp/B00004Z3JI

http://www.amazon.com/Francis-Poulenc-Sacred-Choral-Music/dp/B0000241MK

Switch to Amazon.fr for reviews.

For "Dialogues des Carmelites" the classic Dervaux and the Nagano are both excellent.

A very good one imo:

http://www.amazon.com/Poulenc-Stabat-Gloria-Catherine-Richard/dp/B000F3T37I/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1292355998&sr=1-1

Here's a review of it:

http://www.gramophone.net/Issue/Page/February%201993/72/747460/POULENC.+Gloriaa.+Stabat+matera.+Litanies+agrave+la+Vierge+noire.nbsp

And a comparuson with a similar program by Dutoit:

http://www.gramophone.net/Issue/Page/April%201996/96/805248/OPoulenc+Gloriaa.+Stabat+matera.+Litanies+a+%28a+vierge+noireb.+aFrancoise+Poilet+%28sop%29+French+Radio+Choir+bMaItrise+de+Radio+France+French+National+Orchestra++Charles+Dutoit.

[Larry Kart]

Sadly, Hickox isn't lively any more:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/richard-hickox-conductor-who-left-a-prodigious-recorded-legacy-of-british-music-1033825.html

Don't have that much by him, other than the Poulenc CD, but thought he did a great job on his set of the symphonies of William Alwyn.

[Daniel A]

Thanks! I'll start with one of the Ericsons as it includes the Christmas motets I've had in my head lately.