7 The 100 Most Influential Musicians of All Time 7associated with the Polish composer Frédéric Chopin,
and in 1873 he entered the Paris Conservatory, where he
studied the piano and composition, eventually winning in
1884 the Grand Prix de Rome with his cantata L’Enfant
prodigue (The Prodigal Child).
While living with his parents in a poverty-stricken
suburb of Paris, he unexpectedly came under the patronage
of a Russian millionairess, Nadezhda Filaretovna von
Meck, who engaged him to play duets with her and her
children. He traveled with her to her palatial residences
throughout Europe during the long summer vacations at
the Conservatory. In Paris during this time he fell in love
with a singer, Blanche Vasnier, the beautiful young wife of
an architect; she inspired many of his early works.
This early style is well illustrated in one of Debussy’s
best-known compositions, Clair de lune. The title refers to
a folk song that was the conventional accompaniment of
scenes of the love-sick Pierrot in the French pantomime;
and indeed the many Pierrot-like associations in Debussy’s
later music, notably in the orchestral work Images (1912)
and the Sonata for Cello and Piano (1915; originally titled
Pierrot fâché avec la lune [“Pierrot Vexed by the Moon”]),
show his connections with the circus spirit that also
appeared in works by other composers.
Middle Period
As a holder of the Grand Prix de Rome, Debussy was given
a three-year stay at the Villa Medici, in Rome, where,
under what were supposed to be ideal conditions, he was
to pursue his creative work. Debussy eventually fled from
the Villa Medici after two years and returned to Blanche
Vasnier in Paris. At this time Debussy lived a life of extreme
indulgence. Once one of his mistresses, Gabrielle (“Gaby”)
Dupont, threatened suicide. His first wife, Rosalie (“Lily”)