Poulenc: Sonata for Two Clarinets, Op. 7

“A winning trip back to the days when the joint was really jumping in Paree. – I guess you’d call this CD headlined by Sabine Meyer’s clarinet group Trio di Clarone and barrel organ specialist Pierre Charial a concept album – but, as it’s a winning concept, that’s no problem. ‘Paris méchanique’ is a celebration of Parisian cultural life during the early years of the 20th century.” Gramophone Magazine, October 2008

“I guess you'd call this CD headlined by Sabine Meyer's clarinet group Trio di Clarone and barrel organ specialist Pierre Charial a concept album - but, as it’s a winning concept, that's no problem.” Gramophone Magazine, October 2008

'Entrancing. It's hard to select the choicest treasures from this jewel box of Poulenc's most witty and vivacious, hauntingly melodic and touchingly heartfelt music, especially when it is played with such effervescence and devotion as here. The two masterpieces are the Sextet for Piano and Winds (1932) and the delectable "Mozartian" Trio for Piano, Oboe and Bassoon, played with dashing elan and soulful lyricism by the pianist Ian Brown and the Nash's brilliant wind principals. Richard Watkins's long-breathed account of the moving Elégie in memoriam Dennis Brain (1957) and Paul Watkins's noble-toned playing of the Cello Sonata (1940/48) are exceptional. But there is rapture, elation, zany high spirits in all of this music, dazzlingly played by the Nash Ensemble. Buy, buy, buy!' (The Sunday Times)