Debussy - Khamma, L. 125 ("Légende dansée")

Claude Debussy (1862-1918) Khamma, L. 125 ("Légende dansée") Composed in 1912-1913; premiered in 1924 in Paris Performed by Fabienne Boury, piano, with the Orchestre National de l'O.R.T.F., conducted by Jean Martinon (1910-1976) Recorded June 1973 and January 1974 at the Salle Wagram, Paris Commissioned in 1911 by the American dancer Maud Allan (1873-1956), Debussy’s Khamma, L. 125, was conceived as an Egyptian-themed ballet set in ancient Thebes, detailing the story of a dancer who performs a ritual dance to save her people. Although Debussy accepted the commission primarily for the financial payout, he quickly grew to detest Allan, whom he privately dismissed as a "detestable woman," and left the score in a detailed piano draft. Having lost interest, Debussy entrusted the orchestration to his colleague and friend, Charles Koechlin (1867-1950), asking him to write the orchestration himself while giving him carte blanche. The work was never staged during Debussy's lifetime and had to wait until 1924 for its premiere in Paris under the direction of Gabriel Pierné (1863-1937).