Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

Donald Macleod tracks the scandalous life of Achille-Claude
Debussy


In the music of Claude Debussy there have been said to run
dangerous and destructive currents. His radical works did forge a
path which would redefine music in the 20th Century, but his
beautiful music runs contrary to his shocking personal life. The
Scottish soprano Mary Garden said of him, “I honestly don’t know
if he ever loved anybody really. He loved his music – and perhaps
himself.” The lies and duplicity, deception and debt left other
unfortunate people in their wake, with Debussy unrepentant
throughout. In the aftermath of these scandals, Debussy was
disowned by his friends, and by most of Parisian society, but the
notoriety he gained only seemed to heighten his appeal with
audiences. Over the course of this week, Donald Macleod tracks
the scandalous life of Achille-Claude Debussy and tries to
reconcile his appalling behaviour with his transcendent music.


Suite Bergamasque (3rd mvt, Claire de Lune) La Mer (2nd mvt, Jeux
de vagues) Ariettes Oubliee (No 5, Green) Images for Orchestra
(No 2, Iberia) Mélodies de Jeunesse (No 3, Les Papillons) Recueil
Vasnier, L 53 (Romance – Silence ineffable) Printemps (2nd mvt,
Modere) Danse bohemienne Deux Arabesques Rodrigue et Chimene
(excerpt) (arr. Smith & orch. Denisov) La damoiselle élue
(Chorus: La damoiselle élue s’appuyait) Prélude à l'après-midi
d'un faune Proses Lyriques (No 3, De fleurs) Prelude – La Fille
aux cheveux de lin 3 Chansons de Bilitis Fetes Galantes (Claire
de Lune) Trois Nocturnes Images, L 110 (No 2, Hommage a Rameau)
Estampes (No 2, La soiree dans Grenade) Pelléas et Mélisande, Act
III (excerpt) Rhapsodie for saxophone and orchestra L’isle
joyeuse Danse Sacrée et Danse Profane La Mer (3rd mvt. Dialogue
of the Waves) Children’s Corner (Cakewalk) 5 Poemes de Charles
Baudelaire (No 3, Le Jet d’eau) The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian
(Act V: Paradise) Jeux, L 126 Sonata for flute, viola and harp, L
137 (Finale) La chute de la maison Usher, L112 (excerpt)
(completed and orchestrated by R Orledge) Syrinx


Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC
Audio Wales and West


For full track listings, including artist and recording details,
and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after
broadcast) head to the series page for Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001ygtn


And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve
featured on Composer of the Week here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z