DEBUSSY, C.: La Mer / Images

Featuring

Emmanuel Krivine
Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg
Claude Debussy

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Performer Biography

Emmanuel Krivine, the conductor on this album, began his career as a violinist, winning First Prize at the Paris Conservatoire.

Composition History

Debussy wrote Iberia, the most developed of his Images, without ever having visited Spain, relying on his imagination.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Claude Debussy is described as a "realist" in music, aiming to embody the subject itself rather than merely creating an impression of nature.

Critical Reception

La Mer was harshly received at its premiere in October 1905 and only gained acceptance when Debussy himself, despite being a mediocre conductor, reprised it in 1908.

Composition History

Debussy's La Mer was first mentioned in September 1903 and completed on March 5, 1905, in Eastbourne, England.

Recording & Production

The Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg, featured on this recording, was created in 1996 as the heir to the RTL Symphony and has a rich discography, including works by contemporary composers.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Debussy's music is characterized by a "biology in sound," obeying laws of organic growth that are fluid and elusive, rather than a fixed architectural form.