In his musical aesthetics, Françaix was close to the ‘Groupe des six’ from the outset and, in the connection between cheerfulness and elegance so typical of him, to Poulenc in particular. This applies especially to the Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra, written in 1965, which the composer premiered in Maastricht with his daughter Claude on 26 November of the same year. It is not difficult to discern that Françaix was well acquainted with Poulenc’s Double Concerto when he composed his piece.

Of the six, the Paris-born Poulenc was probably the ‘most French’. Influenced by Surrealism and Apollinaire, on the one hand, and then to a large degree by Catholicism after roughly the middle of his life, he derived his stylistic elements from the greats of music history – from Mozart to Stravinsky. Most striking is surely the second movement of the concerto, representing a dialogue of the composer with Mozart.

"Writing a concerto for two pianos is a complex procedure. Jean Françaix wanted his own one to be brilliant and cheerful, with numerous technical ‘acrobatics. The challenge it represents has been brilliantly resolved by Mona and Rica Bard directed by Ariane Matiakh. The three musicians have realized the composer’s hope throughout his life: making music ‘that gives pleasure’." - Claude Françaix, 2014 (Pianist and composers daughter)