Claude Debussy – A Passionate Life
With ROBERT POWELL & ROHAN MCCULLOUGH
Guests CLIVE CONWAY flute & NATHAN TINKER piano
Robert Powell brings vividly to life, through the composer’s own words, the fascinating character of one of the most extraordinary superstars in musical history. Charismatic, fascinating, outrageously unconventional, possessed of great charm and wit, he was a true Bohemian, equally at home in the lowlife nightclubs of Montmartre as in the aristocratic salons of Parisian Society.
Rohan Mccullough joins Robert in presenting the unfortunate women who were bewitched by this strange and complex man. Shootings, attempted suicide, adultery, public scandal – all featured in the passionate life of Debussy!
Throughout all of the drama of his life flowed the inspired music which shocked the Establishment by its sensuality and daring harmonic language; and how this quixotic genius loved to shock the Parisian Society! His wicked sense of humour, and delight in poking fun, is wonderfully revealed in his own words.
Speaking of a society lady who sang his songs, he remarked: “She sings like a locomotive in distress, but her buttered scones are marvellous!”
Debussy wrote to his wife while on tour in Europe:
“Vienna is a raddled old city where one suffers an excess of Brahms and Puccini. As for Budapest, the river Danube refuses to be as blue as a certain famous waltz maintains it is. The Hungarians are all liars, but charming! But I brought back some marvellous chocolates…”
Event held under the High Patronage of the Romanian President
