DEBUSSY / POULENC

 

Claude Debussy

Cello Sonata No. 1

Valse 'La plus que lente'

Scherzo

Intermezzo

 

Francis Poulenc

Cello Sonata

Bagatelle in D minor

Sérénade

Suite française

 

Jean-Guihen Queyras - cello

Alexandre Tharaud - piano

 

Debussy and Poulenc made a lasting impact on the musical identity of their country through both their references to the past and their innovations. This programme illustrates their vision of a certain esprit français: moving constantly between irony and emotion, extremely refined, yet at the same time offering an amplified echo of 'light' music - in short, the 'exquisite bad music' the creator of Les Mamelles de Tirésias prided himself on writing. Jean-Guihen Queyras and Alexandre Tharaud, upcoming interpreters of the young generation in France, have already made several recordings together and frequently programme these works in concert.

 

"I got to know the Poulenc sonata, thanks to Alexandre, who I believe (although I haven't yet managed to make him admit it) must have learnt to play this music before he started walking; it just seems to flow from his fingers as if it were second nature." J-G Queyras

 

Long a soloist with the Ensemble Intercontemporain, Jean-Guihen Queyras was profoundly influenced by working with Pierre Boulez. His discography, distinguished by a musical eclecticism, includes works by Haydn (on period instruments) as well as Dvorák and 20th-century composers. Alexandre Tharaud devotes a large part of his activity to chamber music and is an enthusiastic advocate of contemporary music.

 

Harmonia Mundi HMC902012