Francis Poulenc’s Concerto for Two Pianos is one of the most dazzling and entertaining works of the 20th century—a sparkling fusion of humor, lyricism, and Parisian chic. Written in 1932 for Poulenc and his close friend Jacques Février to perform together, the concerto was premiered at the Venice Festival the same year with the composer himself at one of the keyboards.
From the very first bars, Poulenc’s unique voice shines through: elegant yet mischievous, sophisticated yet direct. The opening Allegro ma non troppo bursts with rhythmic vitality and jazzy harmonies, inspired in part by Poulenc’s admiration for Ravel’s G major Piano Concerto and his exposure to Balinese gamelan music at the 1931 Paris Exposition. The lyrical middle movement, Larghetto, offers one of Poulenc’s most tender melodies—nostalgic and sincere, reminiscent of Mozart yet unmistakably modern. The finale, Allegro molto, whirls back into exuberant playfulness, full of rapid exchanges between the two pianos and orchestra, culminating in a witty and brilliant close.
Poulenc, one of the first openly gay composers, was known for his ability to blend contrasts—sacred and profane, serious and silly, elegant and irreverent—into a deeply human musical language. The Double Piano Concerto exemplifies that balance perfectly: a work that both sparkles with charm and glows with heart.
(Duration: approx. 20 minutes)
