Noriko Ogawa, the pianist on this recording, won third prize at the 1987 Leeds International Piano Competition and is a national celebrity in her native Japan.
Composition History
Debussy's work on a revised edition of Chopin's complete piano works helped him overcome a creative slump caused by World War I and health worries.
Compositional Technique
Debussy's Études, while systematically addressing piano technique, also incorporate charm and poetic elements, with one study borrowing the form of a barcarole.
Composition History
In 1915, Debussy composed a burst of "pure music" including the Douze Études, two sonatas, and En blanc et noir, opting for factual titles over evocative ones.
Composition History
A thirteenth Étude, sharing its title with No. 11, was not discovered until 1977, revealing that Debussy had worked on two versions simultaneously.
Critical Reception
The Études were initially met with lukewarm interest due to their lack of poetic titles and high technical demands, taking a long time to be recognized as masterpieces.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Claude Debussy believed that "music begins at that point where language becomes powerless as a means of expression; music is made for the inexpressible."
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