The Embarkation for Cythera by Antoine Watteau 1717 Photo: Public Domain
Claude Debussy's 'L’isle joyeuse' -The Joyful Island - is partly inspired by Antoine Watteau’s 1717 painting, The Embarkation for Cythera. This dreamy painting depicts pairs of lovers preparing to make a journey by boat. Cythera is the birthplace of the goddess Venus, the goddess of Love.
When Debussy wrote this, he was on his own little ‘island of love’, Jersey, where he stayed with his lover Emma Bardac.
Originally a solo piano piece, this is an orchestration by conductor Bernardo Molinari, authorised by Debussy.
Recorded in Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington on 2 August 2019 by RNZ Concert
Producer/sound engineer: Darryl Stack
