Poulenc’s complete chamber music for woodwinds and piano, save for a few trifles, fits conveniently onto a single disc, and these are good, sometimes very good performances. Particularly noteworthy is clarinetist Matthew Hunt, who has a huge tone throughout his range and plenty of character. Flutist Guy Eshed has a sweet sound but proves a bit too “melancholy” in the droopy first movement of his sonata. Oboist Adrian Wilson has a pleasantly soft timbre, not a bad thing for this instrument, and it suits the elegiac tone of his sonata particularly well. Tim Horton’s work at the piano gives little cause for complaint. All of the players cooperate very well together in the Trio and the Sextuor.
What all of these performances lack, however, is a certain rhythmic snap, and that witty, “sec” quality that drew Poulenc to prefer writing for winds over strings in the first place, and that also prevents his frequent lyrical effusions from turning too sentimental. Tharaud’s complete chamber music series on Naxos supplies these missing qualities in spades, and his first volume offers all of this music save the clarinet sonata, which is on Volume 2 with the sonatas for violin and cello. Still, if you’re looking for a single-disc collection, there’s certainly enough here to enjoy, minor reservations notwithstanding.
