Debussy’s “La Boîte à Joujoux“ -- Orchestre NRF/Cluytens

Claude Debussy (1862-1918) La boîte à joujoux (The Toybox) Orchestration by André Caplet (1878-1925) Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion française Conducted by André Cluytens (1905-1967) Recorded in 1954 Premier tableau 0:00 Deuxième tableau 12:55 Troisième tableau 21:54 In 1913, the children’s book illustrator André Hellé asked Debussy to compose a “Ballet for children“ dealing with marionettes and toys in a box that come to life. It is a late work that was first composed for piano. Debussy couldn’t finish the orchestration, which was completed by his close friend André Caplet in 1919 (Caplet also orchestrated “Children’s Corner“). The three main characters are a Soldier, Polichinelle and a pretty female Doll. The piece was dedicated to Debussy’s daughter Claude-Emma (“Chou-Chou“, 1905-1919).