Les Preludes

Claude Debussy wanted his piano preludes to be played and listened to privately. Daniel Barenboim, interpreting the delicate musical pieces of the first of two books of Twelve Preludes in surroundings reflecting the composer's turn of the century's ambience, pays tribute to his wish, Architecture, old photographs, a dancer, comments by friends and nature pictures appear, evoked by the music and Debussy's personal circumstances. Quotations of French lyrics that inspired his thoughts and music, as well as diary entries, give the film an exclusive, intimate touch.