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Sonata for Cello & Piano: I. Prologue - Claude Debussy

Cello: Jean-Guihen Queyras
Piano: Alexandre Tharaud

In 1915, Debussy embarked on the composition of a planned set of six sonatas, offered in hommage to his second wife, Emma-Claude. Of these only the first three were complete, the Cello Sonata, a Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp, and a final work for Violin and Piano. 

The ‘Prologue’, unified by the rhythmic figure that appears in the first bar, leads to a poignant theme, marked Poco animando. There is a central section of greater activity and tension, before the return of the opening material, the exposition. A brilliant piece of music!