Poulenc"s songs are some of the finest of this century. His method of writing was unusual. He would set bits of text as the music occurred to him, a few bars at a time. Sometimes the process would take months, even years. The result is music that changes mood in the blink of an eye, and it was Poulenc"s gift that he was able to create such a seamless line from musical fragments that might seem to have very little in common with each other at all. From the audience"s standpoint, his songs are among the most fun to listen to. Poulenc enjoyed a good laugh, loved the music of the Parisian cafes and nightclubs, and wasn"t afraid of tossing anything he heard into a song if he felt that it belonged there. As these bright and idiomatic performances demonstrate, the result is totally delightful. --David Hurwitz