Graceful and elegant, joyously exuberant, witty and wise, innocent yet sophisticated, hauntingly eloquent, deeply passionate and irresistibly beautiful. The solo piano music of Francis Poulenc reveals a world of emotion, intellect and variety.

From the gentle poetry of his Novelettes and Nocturnes to the tongue-in-cheek brilliance of the Promenades, the bittersweet yet tender nostalgia of the Soirées de Nazelles, and the sheer delight of Babar the Elephant, this 5CD album presents the complete solo piano works of this extraordinary composer.

Australian pianist Antony Gray, internationally acclaimed for his unique blend of musical insight and technical mastery, places his remarkable talents at the service of Poulenc’s genius in this landmark collection.

Includes world-premiere recordings of nine works.

Track Listing:

Volume I

CD1

Humoresque

L'Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant (The Story of Babar, The Little Elephant)

Les Animaux modèles (Model Animals): Ballet in one act, after the ‘Fables’ of La Fontaine)

CD2

Novelettes

Nocturnes

Mélancolie (Melancholy)

Villanelle for pipe and piano

Pastourelle

Bourrée

Française (French Tune)

Presto

Badinage

Pièce brève sur le nom d'Albert Roussel (Short Piece on the name of Albert Roussel)

Suite française (French Suite)

Intermezzos

Volume II

CD1

Improvisations

Les Biches (The Does): Ballet with songs in one act

Feuillets d'album (Album Leaves)

Three movements from Le Bal masqué (The Masked Ball)

Valse-Improvisation on the name of BACH

Four movements from Le Gendarme incompris (The Misunderstood Policeman)

Napoli: Suite for piano

CD2

Thème varié (Theme and Variations)

Trois pièces (Three Pieces)

Five Impromptus for Piano (1939 revision)

Promenades

Esquisse d'une fanfare (Sketch of a Fanfare): Overture to Act V of ‘Romeo and Juliet’

Les Soirées de Nazelles (Evenings at Nazelles)

Volume III

Suite in C major

Villageoises: Petites pièces enfantines (Village Dances: Little Pieces for Children)

Trois mouvements perpétuels (Three Pieces in Perpetual Motion)

Valse

Sonata for Two Clarinets

Sonata for Clarinet and Bassoon

Sonata for Horn, Trumpet and Trombone

Mozart’s Ein musikalischer Spaß (A Musical Joke)

Three Pastorales

Impromptus (Original Version)