Claude Debussy

Nocturne for violin and orchestra

The Belgian violinist, Eugène Ysaÿe (1858-1931), with his impressive blend of virtuosity and poetry, was a great admirer of the young Debussy's music who led the Paris première of his only string quartet in December 1893. In September 1892, Debussy was planning an American tour with the financial support of Prince André Poniatowski that was to include his 'nearly completed three Scènes au crépuscule', inspired by the Symbolist poetry of his friend Henri de Régnier. He made 'extensive revisions' to them in 1893, even if all that seems to have survived is a series of sketches in Bibliothèque Nationale de France, MS 20632(2), most of which appear to be for violin and orchestra in E or B major. Another related, and more virtuosic, theme emerged in a Parisian sale in June 2006, which opens the main part of the present Nocturne (after a slow introduction).