Poulenc: Gloria; Motets

1	Gloria in G major: Gloria
2	Gloria in G major: Laudam
3	Gloria in G major: Domine
4	Gloria in G major: Domini
5	Gloria in G major: Domine
6	Gloria in G major: Qui se
7	Salve regina
8	Motets (4) pour un temps
9	Motets (4) pour un temps
10	Motets (4) pour un temps
11	Motets (4) pour un temps
12	Motets (4) pour le temps
13	Motets (4) pour le temps
14	Motets (4) pour le temps
15	Motets (4) pour le temps
16	Exultate Deo
Poulenc: Gloria; Motets
1.	Gloria, for soprano, chorus & orchestra, FP 177 23:53
	Composed by Poulenc
	Performed by Britten Sinfonia, Trinity College Choir, Cambridge, Susan Gritton and Polyphony
	Conducted by Stephen Layton
2.	Salve Regina, for chorus, FP 110 4:43
	Composed by Poulenc
	Performed by Stephen Layton and Polyphony
3.	Quatre motets pour un temps de pénitence, for chorus, FP 97 14:03
	Composed by Poulenc
	Performed by Stephen Layton and Polyphony
4.	Quatre motets pour le temps de Noël, for chorus, FP 152 10:10
	Composed by Poulenc
	Performed by Stephen Layton and Polyphony
5.	Exultate Deo, motet for solemn occasions, for chorus, FP 109 2:43
	Composed by Poulenc
	Performed by Stephen Layton and Polyphony

All Music Guide

This is an appealing single disc of Poulenc's sacred choral music. Performed by the English choral group Polyphony and directed by seasoned conductor Stephen Layton, Poulenc's sacred music here sounds bright, deep, and joyous -- which, of course, it was. A born-again Catholic, Poulenc celebrated his religion with unrelentingly optimistic works that affirmed life and exalted the afterlife. From the biggest work here -- the Gloria for chorus, orchestra, and soprano solo -- to the smallest -- the Exultate Deo for chorus alone lasting two and a half minutes -- this is music of unswerving faith. Even in the darker "Quatre motets pour un temps de pénitence," the essential radiance transforms contrition into consolation. Polyphony brings a pure, warm tone, and crisp ensemble to this recording, making the works sound both monumental and intimate at the same time. Clarion soprano Susan Gritton is splendid in her three movements in the Gloria, and the Britten Sinfonia is both forceful and accommodating throughout the work. Though devoted Poulenc aficionados will already have their favorite French performances of these works, Layton and Polyphony's recordings deserve to be heard. Recorded in All Hallows Church in Gospel Oak, London, in 2007, Hyperion's digital sound is big, brilliant, and colorful. James Leonard

San Francisco Chronicle

A sparkling performance, graced by tender, shapely solos from soprano Susan Gritton. Joshua Kosman

The Guardian

This collection is all exquisitely done, in a slightly cool and detached English choral tradition way, and also impeccably recorded. Andrew Clements

Daily Telegraph

This is a real treat. Polyphony brings its characteristic incisiveness, precision and evenness of tone to Poulenc's unaccompanied Lenten and Christmas motets, Salve regina and Exultate Deo. Matthew Rye