A fatal car accident in Hungary in 1936, which killed a close friend, led Francis Poulenc, the composer of the Gloria and Motets, to reconnect with his childhood faith.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Poulenc described himself as 'wildly eclectic' and acknowledged his debt to composers like Verdi, Debussy, Mussorgsky, and Monteverdi.
Performer Biography
Susan Gritton, the soprano soloist on this album, studied botany at Oxford and London Universities before pursuing a singing career.
Critical Reception
An early review of the Gloria in High Fidelity magazine compared it to a mix of Saint-Saëns and Carl Orff, with a backhanded compliment about its lovely ending.
Composition History
The Gloria was commissioned by the Serge Koussevitzky Foundation, but Poulenc initially resisted writing a symphony or organ concerto before being told to 'do what you like!'
Compositional Technique
Poulenc's Gloria was inspired by frescoes of angels sticking out their tongues and serious Benedictine monks playing football, reflecting its fresh and straightforward nature.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in All Hallows Church, Gospel Oak, London, in April 2007, with Mike Hatch as the recording engineer.
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