Admitted to the Paris Conservatory at the age of 10, he studied piano under Marmontel, solfege with Lavignac and composition with Guiraud, his cantata “L’Enfant Prodigue” winning the “Grand Prix de Rome” in 1884.

Under the influence of the Impressionist painters and the Symbolist poets, notably Mallarme, Debussy quickly detaches himself from earlier, pre-conceived ideas to establish his own personal style, breaking away from post-Romanticism and Wagnerism; he uses the pentatonic style by privileging strong colour and a bold harmonic style. He enjoys his first success with the “Prelude a l’apres-midi d’un faune” in 1894, before causing a scandal with his opera entitled “Pelleas and Melisande” in 1902, followed by the symphony “La Mer” in 1905, breaking with Impressionism in order to reach the heart of his poetical lyrics.

This can clearly be seen in his innovative work for piano, as much in the harmony as the instrumental technique.