RÊVERIE The life and loves of ~ Claude ~

Lucy Parham - piano - narrator RÊVERIE – the story home for the rest of his life and central to his de Boulogne with their dog, Xantho. He wrote opera, Pelléas et Mélisande) that set the course existence as a composer. He and his close friends Children’s Corner for her and — unsurprisingly, for the century which followed him. Discarding The piano works by Debussy that perhaps most Chausson and Dukas came to be at the heart of with the eponymous toy being all the rage — her outworn rules, he forged a new and liberated readily spring to mind are such ever-popular the city’s musical scene. favourite piece was the Golliwog’s Cakewalk. future for classical music. melodious gems as The Girl with the Flaxen Also central to his compositions was his love Hair, Arabesques, Rêverie, Clair de Lune and the A thick-set man, with dark hair and a high fore- of the art of the Far East. Japanese lacquer I have compiled ‘Rêverie’ from Debussy’s Golliwogg’s Cake-walk. But is head, Debussy did not present the classic image and the Javanese Gamelan music he first heard writings and correspondence. The music of the far more than a charming minaturist. His con- of a lothario. His relationships with women as a young man were to influence many of his programme is not in strict chronological order tribution to the piano repertoire and its develop- were, however, both numerous and complex. works. His study was crammed with objets d’art, – it was chosen first and foremost to reflect the ment is immense and his far-reaching influence He had several affairs and two marriages – the paintings and books (including several English mood of the letters. Rêverie received its as a turn-of-the-20th-century composer is hard second to Emma Bardac who, during her previ- novels), all of which had their own specific premiere in the Wigmore Hall’s 2012 London to overestimate. The two books ofPrèludes, ous marriage to a wealthy banker, had also been effect on his output. But the cancer that was to Piano Series to critical acclaim, with actor Etudes and , and L’isle joyeuse all mistress to Gabriel Fauré. Such was the scandal eventually take his life was worsening and his . Other actors joining Lucy transformed the use of harmonic structure and created by her affair with Debussy that the compositional output was now consequently in Parham include Dominic West, Simon Russell instrumental tone colour, creating a new idiom couple had to escape temporarily to Eastbourne decline. Beale, Alex Jennings, Tim McInnerny, Henry with colours, subtleties and complexities that and Jersey. His first wife, Lily Texier, was so Goodman and Simon Callow. had never seen before. The use of the whole-tone distraught that she tried to commit suicide by The First World War had a profound effect on © 2016 Lucy Parham scale, an innovative harmonic palette and judi- shooting herself with a revolver in the Place de la Debussy and he was frustrated that his lengthy cious use of the pedal are just some of elements Concorde. Although she survived, the incident illness prevented him becoming actively in- that contribute to making Debussy unique. caused Debussy deep humiliation from which he volved. As he lay in bed listening to the nightly RÊVERIE - the music never fully recovered. air-raids, he wryly noted: “French art needs to Born the eldest of five children into a humble take revenge as seriously as the French army Rêverie dates from 1900. The title implies a family just outside in 1862, Claude-Achille Debussy, who for his part was always wary of does”. Debussy died from rectal cancer in 1918 daydream in which the listener is invited to join Debussy overlooked his prodigious pianistic tal- people’s judgements on others’ lives, wrote, and, in a further tragedy, his beloved Chouchou and it remains one of his most enduring and ents in favour of becoming a composer. In 1885, “Another man’s soul is a thick forest in which died from diphtheria only months later at the age popular piano works. It has been arranged for whilst still a student at the Paris Conservatoire, one must walk with circumspection”. Ironically, of fourteen. many instruments and used on the soundtrack he won the coveted Prix de Rome, which enabled it was recognition he had so craved as a young of several films. him to spend two years studying at the Villa man that became the source of his depression Debussy’s legacy is immense. ‘Rêverie’ features Medici in Rome, mixing with artists, architects, as he grew older. The only person who brought a number of his piano works, but it was his Danse bohémienne dates from Debussy’s teenage musicians and sculptors. But, feeling both artis- him true and deep happiness was his daughter, entire output (including masterpieces such as years. During the summers he was travelling tically stifled and lonely, Debussy was miserable Claude-Emma (or ‘Chouchou’ as he affection- the Violin and Cello Sonatas, the Quartet, across Europe as teacher to the children of the for most of his time there and longed to return ately called her). He spent endless hours with her numerous songs, the orchestral works Prélude wealthy von Meck family and giving perfor- to Paris. The French capital was to remain his in his beloved garden of his house in the Bois à l’après midi d’un faune and and the mances to earn money. He asked Nazheda von Page 1 Page 2 Meck, who was also Tchaikovsky’s patron, to Jardins sous la pluie, the third piece of the set, is sense of loss and Debussy wrote on the score, famous composition - Clair de lune [Moonlight]. send the piece to the Russian composer, whom influenced by two French nursery songs “We’ll “this rhythm should evoke the depths of a bleak, It was inspired by Verlaine’s poem of the same he greatly admired. Debussy was very dispirited go down to the woods and play” and “Sleep frozen landscape” name and title, with its poignant description by Tchaikovsky’s response: “It is a very pretty child, sleep”. These are both artfully woven into of “the still moonlight, sad and beautiful”, and piece, but it is much too short. Not a single idea a toccata-like figuration which is alternately bril- Poissons d’or [Golden Fish] is the final piece of its seductive delicacy has captured listeners’ is expressed fully, the form is terribly shriveled, liantly virtuosic and playful. Its final peacock- Images Book Two. The extraordinary shimmer- imaginations for over a century. The key of D and it lacks any unity”. like flourish was inspired by the end of Chopin’s ing effect Debussy achieves is inspired by the flat – so effective in one of Chopin’s most famous Mazurka in D Op.33 No.2, which employs a Japanese lacquer of darting golden carp that and tranquil – here exercises a similar The First Arabesque was published in 1891 and similar technical effect. hung on his study wall in his house in the Bois de magic. Sound painting comparable with Clair de it was composed for much the same reason as Boulogne. Debussy captures the movement and lune is achieved in Reflets dans l’eau, [Reflections Schumann composed his popular Arabesque – to Technical effects, like technical demands are freedom with incredible finesse and alarming in the water], the first piece of Images Book One. earn money. It has remained a popular salon prevalent in the two books of Etudes (1914). His accuracy – it is not just the fish you hear, but also Composed whilst Debussy and Emma Bardac piece for over one hundred years. last major works for solo piano (and like several the water in which they move. The contrast with were in Jersey in 1904, it depicts restless light on of his piano compositions, inspired by Chopin) the Golliwogg’s Cakewalk could not be greater. water. Debussy was always fascinated by water Pagodes is the first of three pieces that comprise these twelve studies, each tackling a specific Composed in 1908, it forms part of the six-piece and whilst writing his symphonic sketches La the collection Estampes [Prints]. Each depicts a technical challenge, see Debussy’s style change set – Children’s Corner. Inspired by Schumann’s Mer (also in 1904) he wrote: “The sea has always geographical location – the Orient, Spain and dramatically, becoming more abstract. Pour les Kinderszenen and Album for the Young, Debussy fascinated me to the point of paralysing my crea- France – and Debussy conceived each piece as huit doigts [for the eight fingers] is a fleeting, wrote these pieces for his beloved daughter tive faculties. Moreover, I’ve never been able to an individual picture from an album. He was whirling piece that takes under a minute to play, Chouchou. The set bears the inscription, “To my write a page of music under the direct, immediate even very particular about the design of the but presents many difficulties for the player – not darling little Chouchou – with her father’s tender impression of this great, blue sphinx – La mer was front cover of the sheet music, since he wanted least in view of Debussy’s stipulation that no excuses for what follows”. composed almost entirely in Paris!” the player to see an evocative image for each thumbs be used, just the eight fingers. piece. In Pagodes, the influence of the Javanese Golliwogs were then all the rage and Chouchou L’isle joyeuse [The Joyful Island] was also com- gamelan is obvious from the first bar and the use La fille aux cheveux de lin [The Girl with the adored hers, bought for her by her father. With posed at this time and was inspired by Watteau’s of the pentatonic scale and gong effects Debussy Flaxen Hair] is from the first book of Préludes, typical humour, Debussy inserted a quote from painting ‘L’embarquement pour Cythère’ or utilises immediately draw us into the world of which dates from 1910. It is based on a poem of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde into the central Cythera, the mythical island of love – yet it was the Orient. In this piece and the following one, the same title by Charles Leconte de Lisle, which section whilst the outer sections romp along in written amidst the landscape of a less fabled La soirée dans Grenade, you can almost sense the was very close to Debussy’s heart. The gentle, the style of a cakewalk – a jazzy ragtime dance island, Jersey. In the painting, young lovers tension between the erotisicm of the dance and rocking, tonal theme tenderly conveys the words with sharp rhythms and accents, with contrast disport themselves before a statue of Aphrodite the languid delicacy of the writing. Based on a of the poem. The preceding Prélude, the haunt- supplied by long pauses. and in this technically brilliant, exuberant and dance – the habanera - this piece suggests the ing [Footsteps in the Snow] is, sensual work, Debussy is at the height of creative dying heat at the end of the day is replaced by the by contrast, a stark and achingly lonely work. Its Another set of pieces is , pub- powers. smouldering heat of passion. hushed and almost repressed tones convey a deep lished in 1905 and containing probably his most © 2016 Lucy Parham Page 3 Page 4 Alex Jennings ENO, and Dr Pangloss in Candide; and Acknowledged as one of Britain’s finest pianists, Concertos (BBC CO/Sanctuary) won the BBC trained at the at the Châtelet, Paris, as Henry Higgins in My Lucy Parham applies her sensitivity and imagi- Music Magazine “Critics’ Choice of the Year”. Bristol Old Vic Fair Lady. TV includes , Victoria, nation not only to concertos and recitals, but also She came to public attention as the Piano Winner Theatre School Stan Lee’s Lucky Man, Churchill’s Secret, Foyle’s to portraits in words and music of such composers of the 1984 BBC Young Musician of the Year. after graduating War, Castles in the Sky, The Lady Vanishes, Silk, as Schumann, Chopin, Liszt and Debussy. Her Since her Royal Festival Hall concerto debut at age from Warwick Being Human, , Marple, Hancock life-long passion for the music of Schumann 16, she has played throughout the UK as concerto University. He is and Joan, Cranford, The State Within, Spooks, inspired the original concept of the words and soloist with most of the major British orchestras an associate actor Riot at the Rite, Poirot, Bad Blood, Ashenden, music evening, Beloved Clara. The CD ofBeloved and is a frequent recitalist at the Wigmore Hall. of the RSC. His , Inspector Morse and Smiley’s People. Clara (ASV) was released to critical acclaim. Two She also toured the USA with the BBC Concert theatre credits Films include Denial, , Belle, further evenings, Liszt - An Odyssey of Love and Orchestra on their 50th anniversary, as well as include, for the The Queen, Five Children and It, Babel, The Nocturne - The Romantic Life of Frédéric Chopin Mexico and Turkey with Royal Philharmonic National, as Four Feathers, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, also premiered in the London Pianoforte Series Orchestra. Abroad, she has toured with the in The Wings of the Dove and War Requiem. He has at the Wigmore Hall. These musical portraits Russian State Symphony, Sofia Philharmonic, Bennett’s Hymn worked extensively on the radio and recording have toured the UK and abroad, also making Bergen Philharmonic, Polish National Radio SO and Cocktail audio books. their US debuts in Los Angeles and subsequently and L’Orchestre National de Lille. Sticks, Collaborators, , Present broadcast on NPR across the USA. Her next Lucy Parham is a regular contributor to Laughter, , Stuff Happens, His Girl composer portrait, Rêverie – The life and loves of BBC Music Magazine, Pianist Magazine and the Friday, The Winter’s Tale, (for the Claude Debussy, was performed at the Wigmore Guardian. She also appears frequently as a broad- latter two roles he won the Evening Standard Hall London Piano Series in 2102 to critical ac- cast presenter and guest on BBC Radio 3 and 4 Drama Award for Best Actor), Albert Speer, claim. Her fifth show, Elégie - Rachmaninoff: A on CD Review, Proms Plus, The Essay, Music Heart in Exile Ghetto, and Henry Higgins in is now touring the UK and abroad. Matters, Composer of the Week, Young Musician Celebrated actors who appear in these pro- of the Year, Saturday Classics and Sunday Salon. (Olivier Award, Best Actor in a Musical). With grammes include Juliet Stevenson, Jeremy Irons, She has broadcast on BBC TV as the commenta- the RSC; A Midsummer Night’s Dream (also on Robert Glenister, Dame Harriet Walter, Samuel tor on the Leeds International Piano Competition Broadway), Much Ado About Nothing, and title West, Martin Jarvis, Dominic West, Simon in 2006 and 2009 and as a jury member in both roles in Richard II, (Olivier Award, Callow, Joanna David, Rosamund Pike, Edward 2008 and 2010 for the final of Young Musician Best Actor) and (also in US – Helen Fox, Henry Goodman, Timothy West, Patricia of the Year. She was the Director of the 2006 Hayes Award, Best Actor). Other London ap- Hodge, , Alex Jennings, Simon Russell Schumann Anniversary Festival at Cadogan Hall pearances include Too Clever by Half (Olivier Beale, Tim McInnerny and Charles Dance. and the Schumann 200 Festival at King’s Place in Award, Best Comedy Performance, London Lucy Parham has made numerous record- 2010. In 2014 all four of the Composer Portraits Theatre Critics’ Awards, Best Actor); The Liar; ings including Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue were presented in her “Sheaffer Sunday Matinée The Wild Duck; The Importance of Being Earnest; Sven Arnstein (RPO/EMI Gold), concertos by Ravel, Fauré and Series” at St John’s Smith Square, London. and as Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Franck (RPO records) and a solo Schumann CD Lucy Parham is a Professor at the Guildhall

Factory at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. For photo (ASV). Her CD of Clara and Robert Schumann School of Music, London. Page 5 Page 6 The life and loves of DXL1174 2CD ~ Claude Debussy ~ RÊVERIE Lucy Parham - piano Alex Jennings - narrator CD 1 CD 2 1 Another man’s soul … 0:12 1 After that fateful day … 1:24 2 Rêverie 4:11 2 Des pas sur la neige 3:33 3 I too am at war … 4:16 3 When I wrote … 2:42 4 Danse bohémienne 2:06 4 Reflets dans l’eau 5:27 5 Well, it was the best … 3:42 5 We were happy … 2:28 6 Arabesque no. 1 4:17 6 Poissons d’or 4:08 7 I left my parental home … 3:11 7 The better known … 2:16 8 La soirée dans Grenade 5:04 8 Golliwogg’s Cakewalk 2:55 9 It was at around this time … 1:31 9 In early 1910 … 3:30 10 Pagodes 5:12 10 Clair de lune 4:50 11 Music was responsible … 2:29 11 From the moment … 2:07 12 La fille aux cheveux de lin 2:46 12 Pour les huit doigts 1:31 13 Ernest Chausson and I … 5:00 13 My publisher Durand … 3:26 14 Jardins sous la pluie 3:37 14 L’isle joyeuse 5:58

Producers - Jeremy Hayes (piano), Chris Wallis and Lucy Parham (narration). Engineers - Ben Connellan (piano), John Etchells (narration). CD Producer - Lucy Parham. CD Engineer - John Etchells. Booklet Notes - Lucy Parham. Text of spoken word narration C 2016 Lucy Parham Recorded in Potton Hall, Suffolk, April 19th, 20th 2016 and Air Edel Studios, London, May 31st 2016. C P 2016 Deux-Elles Limited, Reading, UK. www.deux-elles.co.uk