Isabelle Poulain studied under France Clidat and Victoria Melki then with Gisele Magnan. She graduated from the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris in piano, chamber music, musical analysis and music history. She has a teaching diploma and teaches at the Conservatoire du Plessis Robinson near Paris.
Whilst working as a teacher, Isabelle Poulain has given concerts with various partners both in France (at the Salle Cortot, American Embassy, Europe House, Parc Floral de Vincennes, Festival of Romanesque churches, Festival of Val d'Aulnay Festival de la côte de nacre ...) and abroad (in England, Andorra, Venezuela, Japan, Slovakia, Slovenia, Italy, Turkey, Tunisia).
In a musical partnership since 1996 with tenor Marc Filograsso, they recorded their acclaimed "Mélodies Italiennes" of Francesco Paolo Tosti. They have performed several times on radio and television for: France Musique in the programme "Scène ouverte" presented by Stéphane Goldet, Europe1 at the invitation of Frederic Mitterrand, FR3 Provence / Cote d'Azur, France Supervision in "Coup de coeur" and "Trésor de festivals," and TV Muzzik. In 1999 they appeared with others during the "Année de la France au Japon” in Tokyo, Yokohama and Kobe. In 2003, during a concert for the inauguration of the Tosti Institute in Italy, they presented their CD "Mélodies d’Amour" by FP Tosti on the poems of Hugo, Musset, Verlaine amongst others.
Isabelle Poulain also performs French and Spanish melodies with her singing partners. After exploring unknown repertoire, she has given many recitals devoted to the melodies of Peter Vellones (Festival de Ville d'Avray, France Musique ...) and has been working for recognition of this forgotten composer. In the same spirit, her recital with tenor programme "Travel in Spain” seeks to revive composers such as Obradors, Mompou, Turina, Falla.
Isabelle Poulain has designed and created several musical shows combining theatre, storytelling, music and cinema. Among them: "The Adventures of Don Quixote" and "The Story of Babar" which is illustrated with drawings by children and welcomed by the niece of Francis Poulenc, and "Paris qui dort", a Rene Clair film set to music for trio featuring flute, cello and piano. This concert film received a warm welcome in many cinemas, festivals and French cultural institutes abroad (Andorra, Turkey, Slovenia and Tunisia).
She was asked to be musical director and pianist for "The Human Voice" by Poulenc and "The Telephone" by Menotti in "French Spring in Andorra”, which she presented with Raphaelle Farman. Forming a new partnership with her, together they wrote their musical "Elles et LUI...” A lyrical and sentimental journey.
2005
"Intemporel"
with the saxophone quartet Diaphase 2005
2003
"Mélodies d’amour"
of Francesco Paolo Tosti
Tosti with tenor Marc Filograsso 2003
2000
"Manyoshu"
songs written and performed by soprano Kayo Fujino in 2000
1996
"Mélodies italiennes"
of Francesco Paolo Tosti
with tenor Marc Filograsso 1996