Debussy’s ’La mer’ by Bernard Haitink and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

Multi-award-winning conductor Bernard Haitink leads the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in the Concertgebouw Amsterdam. They perform Claude Debussy’s ’La mer, trois esquisses symphoniques pour orchestre,’ known simply as ’La mer.’ Claude Debussy wrote this composition of ’three symphonic sketches’ between 1903 and 1905. Upon its premiere in Paris in October 1905, it was not well-received, provoking confusion and dismay among both audience and critics. But after performances in the United States and Britain, it was performed again in Paris in 1908, and then quickly became one of Debussy’s most famous and admired orchestral works. Along with Debussy’s ’Nocturnes,’ ’La mer’ exemplifies musical Impressionism and serves as a transition between the Romantic and modern eras. Bernard Haitink began his conducting career with Netherlands Radio: he became chief conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic in 1957. Later he was principal conductor of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and held this position for 27 ye