Poulenc composed this valse chantée as incidental music for Anouilh’s play Léocadia. Within the play, the song is described as a pseudo Viennese waltz and functions as a leitmotif. Sung by Yvonne Printemps, one of France’s most celebrated musical theatre stars, “Les Chemins de l’amour” became a popular success. It embodies the relaxed elegance of a Viennese waltz, encased in one of Poulenc’s haunting melodies.