Metamorphoses: Poulenc on Violin and Piano - Hongyi Mo, John Etsell

Read the Review

Métamorphoses is a new CD featuring transcriptions and performances of ten of Francis Poulenc’s songs, plus the violin and oboe sonatas, by violinist Hongyi Mo, together with pianist John Etsell (Azica ACD-71382 azica.com/albums/metamorphoses-poulenc-on-violin-piano).

Mo describes the core intent of the album as being his desire to highlight the literary quality of Poulenc’s songs, the texts producing intense emotions in the engaging music. All ten songs – the three Métamorphoses, the Banalités Nos.2 (Hôtel) and 4 (Voyage), Deux Poèmes de Louis Aragon, Fiançailles pour rire No.5 (Violon), Bleuet and Les Chemins de l’amour – are from the period 1939-43, as is the sonate pour violin et piano, revised in 1949. The charming sonate pour hautbois et piano of 1962 is Poulenc’s last chamber work, written in his final year.

Mo has a warm, sweet sound ideally suited to these delightful works, and has a fine and sympathetic partner in Etsell in a beautifully judged recital.

Buy Now

Buy on azica.com