One of the most famous French composers of the twentieth century, Francis Poulenc was essentially a miniaturist with a prolific output of chamber and instrumental music, together with a large catalogue of songs in varying moods. The Violin and Clarinet Sonatas feature among his frequently performed works, Poulenc’s characteristic mixture of vivacity and bittersweet melodies providing an immediate attraction. The Sonata for Piano and Cello also reveals the composer’s ready sense of fun, though a feeling of nostalgia for the days of his youth tinges each of the four movements. This is the second disc in a series covering Poulenc’s complete chamber and instrumental music.