Francis Poulenc / by Benjamin Ivry.
| Author/creator | Ivry, Benjamin |
| Format | Book |
| Publication Info | London : Phaidon, 1996. |
| Description | 240 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm. |
| Subjects |
| Series | 20th-century composers 20th-century composers. ^A683695 |
| Contents | Childhood and youth, 1899-1919 -- From Les Six to Les Biches, 1920-24 -- Transformations, 1925-35 -- Approaching war, 1936-9 -- Poulenc's war, 1940-5 -- The road to the Carmelites, 1946-53 -- Dialogues des Carmelites, 1953-6 -- After the Carmelites, 1957-63. |
| Abstract | In this biography, Poulenc's work is discussed in the context of his homosexuality and against the colorful background of Paris in the first half of the century. Friendships with such key figures of the time as Jean Cocteau, Igor Stravinsky and Darius Milhaud were complex but always artistically enriching. For twenty-five years he toured as accompanist to the French baritone Pierre Bernac, for whom he wrote many works; Poulenc also performed as piano soloist in some of his own compositions. Despite the contradiction between Poulenc's frequent homosexual encounters and his Catholic piety, he accepted both aspects of his nature, and was directly inspired by his lovers when composing some of his best religious music. His own self-image as an ageing homosexual was expressed indirectly in his one-act opera, La Voix humaine (1958), and more explicitly in the vocal work, La Dame de Monte Carlo (1961). His love affairs with working-class men and his sensitivity about his role in the wartime occupation of France have been obscured; in this biography, however, the author uses recently published documents to shed new light on the composer and the man, and presents a three-dimensional portrait of this complex and sometimes contradictory composer. |
| General note | Includes bibliographical references (pages 230-231), discography (pages 232-234), and index. |
| ISBN | 071483503X |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music | Music Stacks | ML410.P787 I97 1996 | ✔ Available | Place Hold |