Boy, has that been a forgotten work! I do like Poulenc's "Sinfornietta" too. Always have. There are times when Poulenc out-Stravinskies Stravinksky. For me, the "Sinfonietta" is sort of like that. I will simply have to get this, as Veronique Gens is consistently great, and A. Bloch is a pretty good conductor. A few years ago - before the pandemic, I think - I saw a wonderful, small scaled production of Poulenc's "Les Mamelles de Tiresias" at the S.F. Conservatory of Music. What a charmer that is!
Poulenc referred to LA VOIX HUMAINE as "the tragedy of the ego." The protagonist makes for a fascinating contrast with the heroines of both DIALOGUES DES CARMELITES and LES MAMELLES DE TIRESIAS, all roles recorded by Denise Duval (although she didn't sing the premiere of CARMELITES, which was at La Scala). I was working at San Francisco Opera in 1979 when the great Magda Olivero (at age 69!) performed the role of Elle. I look forward eagerly to hearing this new recording with Véronique Gens.
