Debussy’s Parsifal

In the 1890’s many French composers had a love-hate relationship with the music of Wagner. Among them was Claude Debussy. In 1892 he took time out from writing his opera Pelleas and Melissande in order to perform his piano transcription of Wagner’s Parsifal. A friend described Debussy’s performance:

“Debussy played the first act of Parsifal. It came off very nicely and I think the audience liked it, although some of them said they couldn’t hear the words. I’m not surprised! You know how he articulates. We count ourselves lucky if he sings anything other than tra ra ra is ta. Parsifal is quite beautiful, particularly the religious parts. But poor Debussy came to the end of his rope. I thought he’d never follow through with it. As soon as it was over I took him aside in a back room and gave him something warm to drink. I thought he’d fall over. He sings with such energy!

“He assured me that if I hadn’t been there turning the pages for him, at one point he would have clapped the score shut and taken off. The next time there will be time for a cigarette break in the middle of the second act, and then everybody will he happy.

“Our good Debussy does this playing for the same reason that a man totes a trunk– to earn a few pennies. But I think he’s happy at the thought that we were able to get about a thousand francs for him.”

The following year, Debussy’s friend, Eugene Ysaye was hoping to arrange a performance of Pelleas and Melissande in Brussels. For the sake of economy, he suggested a concert performance of certain parts of the opera. Claude Debussy respectfully declined to perform.