|
Figure Humaine
Choral Works by Francis Poulenc
Tenebrae
Nigel Short
James Sherlock - Organ
“The tuning is impeccable, the phrasing intelligent and never forced, the balance always adjusted to the demands of Poulenc's textures … A disc to be treasured.”
Performance *****, Recording *****
BBC Music Magazine, August 2010 |
| |
“[Figure Humaine is] not only one of Poulenc's greatest achievements, but one of the 20th century's most extraordinary choral pieces, with its waves of voices climaxing in the great shouts of Liberté in the closing moments, which Tenebrae control quite beautifully.“
****, The Guardian |
| |
|
“For purity and precision of tone, and flawless intonation, Nigel Short's chamber choir Tenebrae is pretty much unbeatable.“
*****, The Times |
Francis Poulenc is now considered to be among the most important composers of choral music of the 20th Century. Yet his early career reveals no trace of the dazzling and idiosyncratic unaccompanied choral textures so abundantly produced in the second half of his life.
This new collection of Poulenc's choral works is centered on his masterwork, the Figure Humaine. Even though it is only 20 minutes in length, the work is a supreme test of stamina, technical agility, range, aural skill and musicianship. The professional chamber choir Tenebrae (directed by former King's Singer Nigel Short) are more than capable of tackling this repertoire, and this disc promises to provide a new benchmark in interpretations of the work.
This disc follows from December 2009's well received Christmas album What Sweeter Music (SIGCD182).
|
|
