Francis Poulenc
Born: 7th January 1899, Paris
Died: 30th January 1963, Paris
Nationality: French
Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc was a French composer and pianist. His compositions include songs, solo piano works, chamber music, choral pieces, operas, ballets, and orchestral concert music. Among the best-known are the piano suite Trois mouvements perpétuels (1919), the ballet Les biches (1923), the Concert champêtre (1928) for harpsichord and orchestra, the Organ Concerto (1938), the opera Dialogues des Carmélites (1957), and the Gloria (1959) for soprano, choir, and orchestra.
As the only son of a prosperous manufacturer, Poulenc was expected to follow his father into the family firm, and he was not allowed to enrol at a conservatoire. He studied with the pianist Ricardo Viñes, who became his mentor after the composer's parents died.
Read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Poulenc
Browse: Poulenc
Further Reading: Poulenc
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Presto Presents... Claire Booth and Christopher Glynn
9th Jul 2026
The soprano and pianist take us behind the scenes of their new album Cocteau's Music, out now on Orchid Classics and featuring Poulenc's La voix humaine alongside songs by Maurice Delage, Darius Milhaud, Georges Auric and others.
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Cocteau's Music from Claire Booth and Christopher Glynn
26th Jun 2026
The British soprano and pianist explore the extraordinary legacy of French poet, playwright and filmmaker Jean Cocteau, including songs by Milhaud, Honegger and Auric, and culminating in a visceral account of Poulenc's La Voix humaine.
Popular Genres: Poulenc
Chamber
Instrumental
Vocal
Choral
Concertos
Popular Works: Poulenc
- A sa guitare (24)
- Banalités (49)
- Cello Sonata, Op. 143 (53)
- Clarinet Sonata, Op. 184 (110)
- Concert champêtre (24)
- Concerto in D minor for Two Pianos & Orchestra (53)
- Concerto in G minor for Organ, Strings & Timpani (61)
- Elégie for horn and piano, Op. 168 (23)
- Elégie for two pianos, FP175 (24)
- Exultate Deo (26)
- Fiançailles pour rire, FP101 (40)
- Figure humaine (24)
- Flute Sonata, Op. 164 (107)
- Gloria (35)
- L'Embarquement pour Cythère, for 2 pianos (23)
- L'histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant (30)
- La courte paille (29)
- Le Bestiaire ou Cortege d'Orphee (30)
- Les chemins de l'amour (89)
- Litanies à la Vierge noire (36)
- Mass in G major (28)
- Mélancolie (35)
- Oboe Sonata, Op. 185 (55)
- Piano Concerto in C sharp minor, FP 146 (1949) (29)
- Presto in B flat major (29)
- Priez pour paix (25)
- Quatre motets pour le temps de Noël (50)
- Quatre motets pour un temps de pénitence (29)
- Quatre petites prières de Saint François d'Assise (36)
- Salve Regina (49)
- Sarabande for solo guitar, Op. 179 (36)
- Sextet for piano and wind quintet, Op. 100 (45)
- Sonata for Piano Four Hands (à mademoiselle Simone Tilliard) (24)
- Sonata for Two Pianos (44)
- Stabat mater (25)
- Suite française (d'après Claude Gervaise), FP80 (39)
- Trio for piano, oboe and bassoon (55)
- Trois Mouvements perpétuels (54)
- Un soir de neige (36)
- Violin Sonata, FP 119 (81)
Recent Best Sellers: Poulenc
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New. Contes
Sandrine Piau (soprano), David Kadouch (piano), Ophelie Gaillard (cello)
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BBC Music Magazine, October 2026, Vocal Choice
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Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2026, Editor's Choice
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Presto Team Choices, September 2026
CD: Original price $20.25 Reduced $18.22Download from $9.25 -
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New. Mémoire
Alexandre Tharaud (piano)
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Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2026, Editor's Choice
CD: $17.50Download from $10.00 -
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Special offer. Camino | Federico Mompou, Maurice Ravel, Manuel de Falla, Erik Satie, Francis Poulenc
Sean Shibe (guitar)
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Presto Recording of the Week, 20th August 2021
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Gramophone Magazine, September 2021, Editor's Choice
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BBC Music Magazine, October 2021, Recording of the Month
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2021
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Gramophone Awards, 2022, Shortlisted - Instrumental
CD: Original price $18.75 Reduced $15.00Download from $10.00 -
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Special offer. French duets
Steven Osborne (piano), Paul Lewis (piano)
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Presto Recording of the Week, 5th March 2021
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Gramophone Magazine, April 2021, Recording of the Month
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Gramophone Awards, 2021, Shortlisted - Piano
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Winner 2021
CD: Original price $17.50 Reduced $14.00Download from $8.25 -
New Releases: Poulenc
View all new releases-
New. Cristina Ortiz: The Complete Recordings On Warner Classics
Cristina Ortiz (piano)
11 CDs: Original price $47.00 Reduced $42.30 -
New. Softest Thunder
Toby Carr (lute)
CD: $22.50Download from $11.00 -
New. Amour
Esther Abrami (violin), City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Irene Delgado-Jiménez
CD: $16.25Download from $14.00 -
New. Mémoire
Alexandre Tharaud (piano)
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Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2026, Editor's Choice
CD: $17.50Download from $10.00 -
Future Releases: Poulenc
View all future releases-
Coming soon. OK by Me - A Life in Encores
Steven Osborne (piano, pianet)
CD: Original price $17.50 Reduced $16.27Download from $12.50 -
Coming soon. Faites Vos Jeux (Debussy & Poulenc)
Paul Lewis (piano)
CD: Original price $21.00 Reduced $20.16 -
Coming soon. Francis Poulenc: Piano Works
Pietro Beltrani (soloist)
Download from $11.75 -
Coming soon. Faible pour Poulenc
Ada Aria Rückschloß, Ead Anner Rückschloß
Download from $10.00
