4 Motets Pour Un Temps De Pénitence ‧ 4 Laudes De Saint-Antoine De Padoue / Cantate "Les Deux Cités" ‧ Cantate De La Paix

This Erato release brings together significant sacred and choral works from the French mid-twentieth century, specifically highlighting the compositions of Francis Poulenc and Darius Milhaud. The Motets pour un temps de pénitence were composed by Poulenc between 1938 and 1939, reflecting a period of profound spiritual return for the composer, while the Laudes de Saint Antoine de Padoue date from 1957. These works represent the intersection of liturgical solemnity and the distinct, modern harmonic language characteristic of the post-war French school.

The recording features the Ensemble Vocal Stéphane Caillat, a group renowned for their precision and commitment to the choral repertoire of the era. The selection highlights the contrast between the introspective, austere nature of the motets and the more expansive, dramatic reach of the cantatas. At the time of its release on the Erato label, the album was received as an authoritative contribution to the preservation of French contemporary choral music, emphasizing the clarity of texture and the disciplined vocal control for which Caillat's ensemble was well regarded.