When we recorded this album, in March 2022, no-one could have imagined that it would be Bramwell Tovey’s last recording. Chandos Records would like to dedicate this recording to the memory of Bramwell Tovey, with whom the company had collaborated for over a decade; a versatile musician highly accomplished as both a composer and a conductor, immensely personable and humorous, who possessed an innate understanding of the qualities of his fellow orchestral musicians and quickly earned their respect and devotion. He shall be very sorely missed. Tovey and the BBC Concert orchestra capture the wit and charm of Poulenc’s music perfectly. Each piece sizzles with excitement, and the well-known pieces (the Sinfonietta and ballet Les Animaux modèles) are beautifully complemented by less frequently heard miniatures: ‘La Baigneuse de Trouville’ and ‘Discours du général’ from Les Mariés de la Tour Eiffel and ‘Pastourelle’ from L’Éventail de Jeanne.

REVIEWS:

Les Animaux modèles, in its complete version, is a real rarity… this score is an absolute masterpiece with an enchanting beauty of melodies, a finesse of orchestration and a poetic evocation of animals through an intelligent and subtle narration. In 40 minutes, this music is a marvel. Bramwell Tovey at the podium of a sharp and precise orchestra delivers a thoughtful and finely musical rigorous reading of content and form… The Sinfonietta is the ideal complement. Bramwell Tovey takes care of the lines and contours of this beautiful neo-classical tone score[.]

-- Crescendo

[Tovey] seems to gaze into the soul of the Sinfonietta … a deliciously refined account of Les animaux modèles… Astonishingly vivid Chandos engineering on a 'big-screen' soundstage.”

-- Hi-Fi News

Chandos collaborated with Bramwell Tovey for more than a decade and the music-making has his trademark naturalness and good humour. Not the most obvious farewell, perhaps, but in its avoidance of pomp and solemnity none the worse for that.

-- Gramophone

This is one of the most enchanting discs of Poulenc’s orchestral music that one could wish for. It is also a fitting tribute to the fine musicianship and inimitable style of the conductor Bramwell Tovey…The BBC Concert Orchestra are on sparkling form and respond unfailingly to Tovey’s direction with alert and characterful playing throughout this SACD. In all respects this release is an absolute winner – 74 minutes of captivating music performed with finesse and recorded in state-of-the-art sound. Who could ask for more?

-- HRAudio.net

…here the late Bramwell Tovey has the full measure of these pieces, finding every ounce of their piquancy and weight – and in a recording in which in its forensic detail registers with total faithfulness. Tovey and the BBC Concert Orchestra revel in the charm, wit and humor of some of Poulenc’s finest orchestral pieces…

-- CDChoice.co.uk

An excellent disc of some lesser-known Poulenc, very well performed and splendidly recorded.

-- MusicWeb International