Debussy's Les Estampes

I propose the second of the Estampes: Soirée dans Grenade, performed by me in a past concert. It is incredible how Debussy never set foot in Spain!!!

Here is the third one: Jardins sous la pluie, always live and recorded from one of my old concerts from the 80s

Naturally, as with the Wanderer, listening opinions are welcome.

Congratulations Maestro!

beautiful phrasing... great atmosphere... especially considering the live performance.

In reality, it seems not entirely true that Debussy was never in Spain: according to Francois Lesure, in fact, in 1880, during a summer vacation, he supposedly spent an afternoon in San Sebastian, even attending a bullfight.

However, late-century France (in general the aesthetics of Art Nouveau) was steeped in exoticism, "Spanishness," and Orientalism in general (one only needs to think of Gauguin, the interest in Japanese prints, Hokusai's famous "wave" with Mount Fuji in the background which for some reason reminds me of Les Pagodes), and although Debussy was certainly not inclined toward fashions, he drew heavily from the "exotic" musical heritage (Arabic and Balinese) in his already post-tonal writing, which finds a wonderful example in estampes.

The Paris Universal Exposition, probably, had a decisive influence: it is here that he immersed himself in exoticism and seems to have encountered the gamelan orchestra, subsequently using its slendro and pelog modes and allowing himself to be influenced also in the conception of the musical piece as a series of combinable and superimposable events.

Thank you for these interpretations.

Thank you for the information!!! Although, I don't want to be mistaken, S. Sebastian is "Basque Country". But regardless, the information you are giving me is very stimulating. Thank you for the compliments. This "exotic" vein is real, which, I believe, has always pleased the Author. Regarding the "overlap," I fully agree. As you may have heard, for example in the closing of Grenade, I start from a "bright" piano and then manage to reach the pianissimo perhaps with three p's. This overlap (almost a sort of sonic cross-fade) exists in Debussy both in the sound planes of every idea as well as during their sudden and unexpected appearance. Thank you again

Compliments to Maestro Paolo Ferrarelli.. simply A GREAT ONE!!