Francis Poulenc Aubade ~ Concerto choréographique for piano and 18 instruments (1929) Toccata - Récitatif - Rondeau - Presto - Récitatif - Andante - Allegro féroce - Conclusion
Boris Krajný, piano Prague Chamber Orchestra Stanislav Macura, conductor
[...] Poulenc’s Aubade may be described as a ballet that became a concert piece, regarded now as simply the first of the French composer's piano concertos. [...] The work's title refers to a song greeting the dawn, since the action of the ballet begins at dawn on one day and concludes at dawn on the next. The cast was entirely female, with the goddess Diana as heroine. The following description of the action is based on the composer's own scenario, printed in the piano score 1. Toccata. 2. Recitative: Diana's Companions. 3. Rondeau. Diana and her Companions. 4. Presto: Diana Dressing. 5. Recitative: Introduction to Diana's Variation. 6. Andante: Diana's Variation. 7. Allegro feroce: Diana's Despair. 8. Conclusion: Diana's Farewell and Departure.