Poulenc: The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant

Featuring

Miriam Margolyes
Simon Callaghan
Francis Poulenc

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Composition History

Cécile de Brunhoff, the originator of the Babar story, requested her name be removed from the publications, feeling her contribution was too small to be credited.

Performer Biography

Miriam Margolyes, the narrator on this album, is an Oxford-born veteran of stage and screen, known for winning a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress in 1993.

Composer Biography

Many have drawn parallels between the narrative of the Babar story and aspects of composer Francis Poulenc's own life, such as the premature death of his mother and nostalgia for his original environment.

Composition History

Poulenc began improvising the music for Babar in 1940 after a young relative became bored with the music he was playing, delighting her by putting Brunhoff's book on the piano.

Composition History

The story of Babar, the Little Elephant, originated as an enchanting bedtime story told by Cécile de Brunhoff to her sons in 1930.

Performer Biography

Simon Callaghan, the pianist on this album, is a Steinway Artist who performs internationally as a soloist and chamber musician and has a particular interest in bringing rarely performed works to new audiences.

Recording & Production

This recording was made under social distancing guidance relating to COVID-19, with music recorded in Monmouth, UK, and narration recorded in London in August 2020.