A member of Les Six, French composer Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) was largely self-taught. Through his entire career, he preferred writing for voice and produced little symphonic music that was not theatrical in purpose. He wrote three operas, Dialogues of the Carmelites about martyred nuns in the French Revolution being staged most often. He also produced exquisite religious music, including Stabat Mater, about Mary watching Jesus' crucifixion and a setting of the Gloria.