Poulenc: Melodies (Songs)

"[Piquemal] voice is very consistent across its range. In addition, his French is authentic and natural, and he's dramatic-unafraid to exploit the more emotional moments in Poulenc's otherwise very delicate writing. ...At his very best moments, as in the hushed religiousity of 'Priez pour paix' or tangling with the virtuosic demands of 'Chanson du clair Tamis', Piquemal is everything I could hope for...
Naxos gives us good notes, texts, and translations, as we have come to expect."
- American Record Guide (John Boyer) Jan-Feb 2001

"Highly sensitive performances of a collection of Poulenc songs. Piquemal shows an extraordinary sympathy for the tone of these alternately delicate and powerful settings, in which he is partnered with rare sensibility by Chrisine Lajarrige."
Gramophone Jan 2001

Francis Poulenc was one of the most influential and popular French classical composers working during the central part of the 20th century. His output covered every genre, the unmistakable style of writing acquiring an agreeable pungency by a mischievous use of harmony. Today he is best known for his large-scale symphonic and choral works, though he created an abundance of exquisite instrumental and vocal miniatures. Many date from his teenage years, the individual songs and song-cycles finding the composer in nostalgic, humorous, happy and outrageous moods.