Stéphane Degout and Cédric Tiberghien, inpartnership with two fine instrumentalists,explore the urbanity and sheer playfulness ofworks by Poulenc in their programme’s firsthalf before turning to the exotic imagery oftwo of Ravel’s finest artistic achievements,the Chansons madécasses and the Histoiresnaturelles, a cycle of five songs to poemsby Jules Renard.

Degout’s lyric baritone,sonorous and supremely flexible, ideallysuits the soundworld of Poulenc and Ravel.Best known to British audiences for hisacclaimed performances of Mozart andRossini at the Royal Opera House, he hasalso attracted rave reviews for his recordingsof French mélodies.