​An inspiration to countless composers

​One of Debussy's crowning achievements is his wartime triptych: three sonatas composed as both a tribute to French soldiers during World War I and an homage to his beloved Baroque composers. These masterpieces would go on to become touchstones of 20th-century chamber music, influencing generations of composers to come.

The evening begins with pianist Rik Kuppen performing Pièces de clavecin by Rameau, a Baroque master whose influence can be heard throughout Debussy's cello sonata. In his Second Sonata for harp, flute and viola, Debussy reveals himself as a musical alchemist, weaving together sounds from across the globe. This innovative spirit would later inspire Toru Takemitsu to take up composition; his ethereal Rain Spell captures the essence of falling rain, while Claude Vivier's Ojikawa (stream) similarly draws on water imagery – a recurring theme in Debussy's work.

Celia Swart's Wind Secrets transports listeners to a mythical realm where nature and poetry intertwine, making it an ideal companion to Debussy's Violin Sonata. The program also features Lili Boulanger's mystical song cycle Clairières dans le Ciel, which bears the unmistakable influence of Debussy's compositional style.