At first listen, French composer Francis Poulenc would seem to have written his ethereal, polyphonic a cappella sacred music during the 15th century instead of the 20th. Polyphony came naturally to him. RIAS-Kammerchor, founded in 1948, helped the revival of the musical life in Berlin in partnership with the Berlin Radio Symphony and Berlin Philharmonic. Under director Marcus Creed the Choir has achieved elite status among German professional choirs. Included here are Poulenc's 4 motets, "Quatre motets pour un temps de penitence" (1938-39), "Exultate Deo" (1941), "Salve Regina" (1941), 4 Christmas motets, "Quatre motets pour le temps de Noel," and the 4-part "Messe en Sol majeur." Sometimes moody, sometimes soaring angelically, there can be no doubt of Poulenc's musical genius, perfectly expressed in the clear, effortless harmonies of RIAS-Kammerchor. Extensive, multilingual liner notes.