Danish National Symphony Orchestra Wind Quintet, Ralf Gothóni - French Music for Wind Quintet: Poulenc, Ibert, Milhaud, Françaix (2005)

The wind quintet made up of the principal players of the Danish National Symphony are fairly well-known from their earlier recordings. And Ralf Gothóni, who joins them for Poulenc's Sextet for Piano and Winds, is a strikingly sensitive pianist, particularly in chamber settings. The program itself is very strong; it comprises basically the core of 20th-century French wind quintet literature: the Poulenc Sextet, Ibert's 'Trois Pièces brèves,' Françaix's First Wind Quintet, and Milhaud's 'Le Cheminée du roi René.' All of these are marvelous pieces, although I must say that the Milhaud, except for its closing 'Chasse à Valabre' and 'Madrigal - Nocturne,' has always seemed bit boring for me; this performance does nothing to change that impression. But that's not the fault of the players. Otherwise, though, this CD has much to recommend it, both musically and in the performances.