Debussy's one-act ballet, or 'Pome dans', was given its first performance by Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes on May 15, 1913 with scenery by Lon Bakst; Vaslav Nijinsky was the featured dancer and Pierre Monteux conducted. Despite the exquisitely-crafted score, the ballet's premiere was overshadowed by the riotous premiere by the same company of Stravinsky's Le sacre du printemps just two weeks later. Fortunately, Debussy's music has continued life as a concert work over the past century. The score reproduced here was first issued in Paris by Durand et Cie. at the end of 1913. As with all PLP scores a percentage of each sale is donated to the amazing online archive of free music scores and recordings, IMSLP - Petrucci Music Library.
- Wikipedia article
- IMSLP page