Debussy: Clair de lune | Menahem Pressler, piano

Drenched in the light of the moon: Claude Debussy’s “Clair de lune” is an ode to the night sky. It’s one of the French composer’s best-known pieces and it was given an emotional interpretation on 17 October 2012 at a concert in the Salle Pleyel in Paris by piano virtuoso Menahem Pressler (1923 - 2023), who was almost 90 years old at the time.

The French composer Claude Debussy (1862 – 1918) is a representative of musical Impressionism. Debussy was fond of subject matter from nature such as sea, clouds and snow and attempted to inject these phenomena of nature with musical character, whereby a formal freedom was of particular importance to him. Claude Debussy was an individualist who wasn’t afraid to ruffle feathers. He started getting noticed in 1894 with the orchestral work “Prélude à l´après-midi d´un faune”; the final breakthrough came with the opera “Pelléas et Mélisande” premiered in 1902.

The piece “Claire de lune” is part of the “Suite bergamasque“ composed by Claude Debussy in 1890. It consists of four movements; “Clair de lune“ is the third of these. The piano suite was first performed in 1905. Claude Debussy often drew inspiration from the poetry of Paul Verlaine – sensitive, somber descriptions of the natural world in accordance with late 19th-century tastes. “Clair de lune” was also inspired by an eponymous poem by Verlaine. This particular movement of the suite is a frequent inclusion on concert programs and is exceedingly popular – not just on stage. “Clair de lune” also features on many movie soundtracks.

The soloist Menahem Pressler was born as Max Pressler in 1923 in the German city of Magdeburg. His family is Jewish. After the Nazis came to power he fled the Holocaust in 1939 with his parents, initially emigrating to Palestine and then to the US in 1940. The other members of his family were murdered by the Nazis. In the year 1946, the young Pressler won the Debussy International Piano Competition in San Francisco, and remained in California thereafter to continue his studies. In 1955, he founded the world-famous “Beaux Arts Trio”. The ensemble went on to make more than 50 recordings. Many musicians played with the trio until it gave its final concert in 2008. Pressler has also been performing as a soloist throughout his life.

Menahem Pressler once said: "I'm still hungry for music." And he remained that way on into old age. The piano virtuoso died in London in 2023 at the age of 99.

A production of LGM Télévision

© EuroArts 2012

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[lisas]

I am in awe of this master pianist. There is a depth of emotion and purity here that is rarely achieved. It is an absolute joy to listen to this performance!

[johnnyperea]

I was lucky enough to be born into a house with music.
My dad loves to play piano, and he wasn't the most talkative person, but when he started to play piano, you could feel him speaking to you.
When I was 2 years old, he would sit me on his lap and play this song. When I was 14 years old, he was diagnosed with cancer, and they told him he wouldn't live to the end of the year (it was August)
He lived for two more years, defying everything the doctors had told him.
He died surrounded by his family, and his last words to me were, "never stop playing, can you please, play for me? And not forget me? Can you do that for me?"
At his funeral, I was asked if I would play a song, and I chose to play this song, the song he played while I would sit on his lap. The song that could bring back a thousand memories.
And now, 8 years later, I sat down at the piano with my beautiful 2 year old girl, who we decided to name
Claire, and played this song for her.

[galinakrivulin]

So gracefully played! And being 94 piano virtuoso Menahem Pressler had a solo concert at our Walt Disney Concert Hall, he was amazing, one wouldn’t even think of his age. Four encores, standing ovation, the audience didn’t want to let him go. Unforgettable concert!

[whoislucia]

He’s not playing the piano, he’s touching heaven and translating into music for us, mere mortals

[michaelgibson]

How can it be that a piece of music written nearly 120 years in a different time and world can still resonate with people of today and move them, The magic of music

[ghostofuchiha]

Pure muscle memory ; he's not even reading the sheet, Just wow ! 90 yrs old, fragile, shaking hands yet ; the purity to the ears

[borispradel]

Once in a while Youtube algorithm gets it right. Thank you.

[nicolekosich]

My mother always played this so beautifully. I miss her.

[falldogii]

Rest in peace, Maestro. Thank you for the music.

[Pneuma]

Managem just passed away last year, a few months before his 100th birthday. Such an amazing gift to humanity. He will be missed 😢

[debbieosborn]

These old hands may tremble at times but they will forever know the music! He is the music ❤️

[Kelly-qcwc]

I keep coming back to this for the peace it gives me. 🕊

[annabenditta]

this feels like a last embrace of a mother.

[DavidThomas]

Claude Debussy and Menahem Pressler are a musical match made in Heaven.

[lapinke]

Something like this is worth living for

[timseibel]

Maybe the single most beautiful piece of music ever written. Wonderfully played. Thank you.

[jillh]

This is absolutely my favorite ❤❤❤ it always brings tears to my eyes because it is so beautiful!!!

[kaidoChess]

Eyes closed giving the piano a light massage. What a masterpiece

[lt.kilgore]

What a dream, what magnificence... when you listen to this, nothing else matters.

[judywidener]

My mother was a pianist- this was her favorite. Such a remarkable piece- melodic and gossamer