Poulenc's choral music is particularly treacherous territory. One moment you're singing what sounds like Janequin or Passereau, the next you're into jagged, almost atonal lines and harmonies that seem to tear at the ether. And the contrasts are often abrupt and have to be managed at speed with every syllable of the French in place. Incredibly, the Accentus Chamber Choir under Equilbey's direction meet all these challenges with flying colours. Not only that, but their phrasing is unfailingly sensitive to the verbal shifts of the poems and no less to the harmonic and textural shifts of Poulenc's music. It's unlikely that a non-French choir would be able to achieve these standards.
Tuning and ensemble are impeccable, tone quality excellent and the varied textures sharply characterised within a spacious acoustic and with slightly distant recording.