La Mer / Jeux Prelude a Lapres Midi Dun Faune

Valery Gergiev has been performing Debussy s music regularly with the LSO since he became Principal Conductor in 2007. For his latest LSO Live release, he presents his first recordings of three Debussy favorites, including a sensational performance of La mer. Widely considered one of the twentieth century s most innovative and influential composers, Debussy was a musical impressionist, although it was a term he disliked. Despite running to little over ten minutes in duration, the sublime Prélude à l après- midi d un faune is regarded as one of the most important and revolutionary of musical works. La mer was completed ten years later whilst Debussy was living in England and is a spectacular orchestral showpiece. Jeux, one of Debussy s final orchestral works, was written for Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes.