Son of the renowned conductor and violinist Gaston Poulet, Gérard Poulet began learning the violin at five, entered the Paris Conservatoire at eleven under André Asselin and won the violin prize aged twelve. After a prodigious win at the Genoa Paganini Competition in 1956 he took further instruction from Francescatti, Menuhin, Milstein and Szeryng—an impressive pedagogic lineup from which he names Szeryng as his ‘musical father’. Like many who enjoyed the guidance of illustrious masters, Poulet followed suit, teaching at the Paris, Vienna and Beijing conservatories and Tokyo University.

Poulet’s playing is distinctive and in many ways impressive. His Corelli Trio Sonata (2007, with what sounds like a very large harpsichord!), though not entirely ...