Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Claude Debussy's "Impressions of Orient," a captivating journey through the rich tapestry of Eastern influences in classical music. Released on November 21, 2025, under Warner Classics, this exquisite collection spans over two and a half hours, offering a diverse and immersive experience that showcases Debussy's mastery and his fascination with the Orient.
The album is a meticulously curated selection of pieces that draw inspiration from various Eastern cultures, blending traditional classical compositions with exotic melodies and rhythms. From the lively "Turkish March" by Mozart to the evocative "In a Persian Market" by Ketèlbey, each track is a testament to the enduring allure of the East.
Debussy's own compositions, such as "Pagodes" from his "Estampes" suite, are interwoven with works by other renowned composers like Ravel, Tchaikovsky, and Bizet, creating a harmonious fusion of styles and eras. The album also features lesser-known gems, such as the delicate "Jade" by Ferroud and the hauntingly beautiful "Les roses d'Ispahan" by Fauré, adding depth and variety to the listening experience.
"Impressions of Orient" is not just a collection of music; it's a celebration of cultural exchange and artistic inspiration. Whether you're a longtime admirer of Debussy or a newcomer to classical music, this album offers a rich and rewarding exploration of the Orient through the lens of some of the greatest composers in history. Prepare to be transported to a world of enchantment and discovery with every note.
Rameau: Zoroastre, Act 1: Air tendre en rondeauJean-Philippe Rameau, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie
Purcell: Abdelazer, Z. 570: II. RondeauHenry Purcell, Andrew Parrott, Taverner Players
Bartók: Mikrokosmos, Sz. 107, Book II: No. 58, In Oriental StyleBéla Bartók, Dezsö Ranki
Ravel: Shéhérazade, M. 17: II. La flûte enchantéeMaurice Ravel, Marianne Crebassa, Fazıl Say, Bernhard Krabatsch
Glazunov: Suite from Raymonda, Op. 57a: XIV. Entrée des SarrasinsAlexander Glazunov, José Serebrier, Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Prokofiev: Cinderella, Op. 87, Act 3: No. 43, Oriental DanceSergei Prokofiev, André Previn, London Symphony Orchestra
Beethoven: Die Ruinen von Athen, Op. 113: Turkish MarchLudwig van Beethoven, Efrem Kurtz, Philharmonia Orchestra
Jaubert: Chants sahariens "5 Poèmes touaregs": No. 2, La nuit passéeMaurice Jaubert, Felicity Lott, Kammersensemble de Paris, Armin Jordan
Woodforde-Finden: 4 Indian Love Lyrics: No. 3, Kashmiri Love Song (Arr. Hough for Piano)Amy Woodforde-Finden, Stephen Hough
Szymanowski: Love Songs of Hafiz, Op. 26: No. 4, Pearls of My SoulKarol Szymanowski, Sir Simon Rattle, Katarina Karnéus, City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Brahms: 15 Neue Liebeslieder, Op. 65: No. 2, Finstere Schatten der NachtJohannes Brahms, Barbara Bonney, Anne Sofie von Otter, Kurt Streit, Olaf Bär, Bengt Forsberg, Helmut Deutsch
Delage: 4 Poèmes hindous: No. 4, Jaipur. Stance de BhartrihariMaurice Delage, Felicity Lott, Kammersensemble de Paris, Armin Jordan
Ketèlbey: In a Persian MarketAlbert Ketèlbey, John Lanchbery, Ambrosian Singers, Philharmonia Orchestra
Debussy: Estampes, CD 108, L. 100: No. 1, PagodesClaude Debussy, Youri Egorov
Cuando el rey NimrodAnonymous, Joel Cohen, Boston Camerata
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Op. 71, Act 2: No. 12b, Divertissement. Coffee, Arabian DancePyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Mariss Jansons
Puccini: Turandot, Act 1: "Notte senza lumicino" (Coro, Calaf, Pong, Pang, Ping, Timur)Giacomo Puccini, Antonio Pappano, Coro dell'Accademia Nazionale Di Santa Cecilia, Gregory Bonfatti, Jonas Kaufmann, Mattia Olivieri, Michele Pertusi, Siyabonga Maqungo, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
Stravinsky: Le Chant du rossignol: II. Marche chinoiseIgor Stravinsky, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Grieg: Suite No. 2 from Peer Gynt, Op. 55: II. Arabian DanceEdvard Grieg, Paavo Berglund, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Lehár: Das Land des Lächelns, Act 2: Tanzlied. "Im Salon zur blau'n Pagode"Franz Lehár, Willi Boskovsky, Brigitte Lindner, Das Münchner Rundfunkorchester
Chopin: Mazurka No. 47 in A Minor, Op. Posth. 68 No. 2Frédéric Chopin, Samson François
Roussel: 2 Poèmes chinois, Op. 12: No. 1, Ode à un jeune gentilhommeAlbert Roussel, Mady Mesplé, Dalton Baldwin
Verdi: Aida, Act 1: "Immenso Fthà" - "Mortal, diletto ai numi" (Ramfis, Coro)Giuseppe Verdi, Zubin Mehta, Bonaldo Giaiotti, Coro Del Teatro Dell'Opera Di Roma, Orchestra Del Teatro Dell'Opera Di Roma
Delius: Hassan, Act 1: Serenade (Arr. Tertis for Violin & Piano)Frederick Delius, Tasmin Little, Piers Lane
Britten: Songs from the Chinese, Op. 58: No. 3, The Autumn WindBenjamin Britten, Ian Bostridge, Xuefei Yang
Delibes: Lakmé, Act 1: Duo des fleurs. "Viens, Mallika" (Lakmé, Mallika)Léo Delibes, Sabine Devieilhe, Marianne Crebassa, Les Siècles, François-Xavier Roth
Holst: Beni Mora, Oriental Suite, Op. 29 No. 1: II. Second DanceGustav Holst, Sir Malcolm Sargent, BBC Symphony Orchestra
Seydelmann: Il Turco in Italia, Act 1: "Girate quel guardo" (Selim)Franz Seydelmann, Bruno de Sá, Jarosław Thiel, Wrocław Baroque Orchestra
Poemes chinois pour choeur mixte et piano: Larmes de la déesse du Siang - Tu MuPhilippe Hersant, Joël Suhubiette, Chœur de chambre Les Eléments, Corine Durous
Cui: Kaléidoscope, Op. 50: No. 9, OrientaleCésar Cui, Herbert Downes, John Williams
Schmitt: La tragédie de Salomé, Op. 50: II. Danse des perlesFlorent Schmitt, Pierre Dervaux, Orchestre du Théâtre National de l'Opéra de Paris
Berlioz: La captive orientale, Op. 12, H 60fHector Berlioz, Véronique Gens, Louis Langrée, Orchestre De L'Opéra National De Lyon
Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No. 5 in F Major, Op. 103 "Egyptian": III. Molto allegroCamille Saint-Saëns, Bertrand Chamayou, Emmanuel Krivine, Orchestre National De France
Ibert: Escales: II. Tunis - NeftaJacques Ibert, Jean Martinon, Orchestre National de l'O.R.T.F.
Gluck: La rencontre imprévue ou les pèlerins de la Mecque, Wq. 32, Act 1: "Je suis touché des bontés de la dame" (Balkis, Ali, Osmin)Christoph Willibald Gluck, John Eliot Gardiner, Claudine Le Coz, Guy de Mey, Jean-Luc Viala, Orchestre de l'Opéra de Lyon
Strauss II, J: Ägyptischer Marsch, Op. 335Johann Strauss II, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Couperin: Quatrième livre de pièces de clavecin, Vingt-septième ordre: III. Les ChinoisFrançois Couperin, Olivier Baumont
Rossini: L'italiana in Algeri, Act 2: "Non sei tu che il grado eletto brami aver di Pappatacci?" (Isabella, Mustafà, Coro, Lindoro, Taddeo)Gioachino Rossini, Claudio Scimone, Domenico Trimarchi, Ernesto Palacio, Marilyn Horne, Prague Philharmonic Choir, Samuel Ramey, I Solisti Veneti