Debussy's early work, Danse bohémienne, was inspired by his time as a household pianist for Nadezhda von Meck, Tchaikovsky's patroness, and its manuscript was sent to Tchaikovsky.
Critical Reception
Debussy's Deux Arabesques initially sold poorly, being considered "far too complicated," but sales rocketed after the success of his opera Pelléas et Mélisande.
Performer Biography
Pianist Christopher Devine won the Ricard Viñes Competition in 2004, named after Ricardo Viñes, a close friend of Debussy.
Composer Biography
Claude Debussy, the composer, took his first piano lessons at age nine from Madame Mauté, who claimed to be a pupil of Chopin.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Debussy advised pianists to "make me forget the piano has hammers," desiring to hear the instrument's resonance rather than the impact of hammer on string.
Compositional Technique
Debussy's Preludes often place their pictorial titles at the end of each piece, allowing the music to act as a "prelude to the title."
Recording & Production
This album features two different pianos: a Steinway and a Bösendorfer, with the Bösendorfer specifically used for the ballet pieces.
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