As one of Les Six, Poulenc was acutely aware of modern trends. His mélodies (French Art Songs) set poets like Apollinaire, Éluard and Aragon; the voices of 20th-century French feeling. This charming collection reveals Poulenc as a master craftsman for the voice, affirming his position as heir to the French Art Song tradition, after Fauré and Debussy. His melodic lines are gracefully uncomplicated, and feature a delicate lyricism with a popular edge.

Belgian soprano Sophie Karthäuser is the charismatic chanteuse whose voice fills this parlour of musical delights. Her performance pedigree is impressive: she has sung Classical and Baroque roles under conductors such as Chailly, Gardiner and Christie. Her voice is sumptuous on this disc, gliding effortlessly through Poulenc’s long, sensuous phrases with a casual elegance. It is never overdone, and features all the nuance and variation of colour required in a diverse set of songs. She inhabits the character of each poem, employing theatrical touches and vocal shading to convey the narrative of each.

Poulenc’s music is quintessentially French, and embraces a more contemporary world than some. Works like Voyage à Paris are fit for the dreamy atmosphere of the cafés and salons of 20th-century Paris. Others have a warm...