In this, the first of five installments of WQXR's special series, "Debussy and the Piano," David Dubal presents a vintage recording of Debussy playing from the Children’s Corner Suite, an explanation of why Debussy wasn’t a fan of Beethoven, and an exploration on how France and French culture influenced his aesthetic.

Listen to the full show above, which will be available through Sept. 5

Debussy and the Piano: Part I, Playlist

1) Debussy, Claude: “Images,” Set 1: ‘Reflets dans l’eau’ (Reflections in the Water)
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, piano

2) Debussy, Claude: La plus que lente
Artur Rubinstein, piano

3) Debussy, Claude: Preludes: Book I: “Minstrels”
Walter Gieseking, piano

4) Debussy, Claude: “Pour le piano”: ‘Sarabande’
Claudio Arrau, piano

5) Debussy, Claude: Etude No. 6, “for Eight Fingers”
Mitsuko Uchida, piano

6) Debussy, Claude: Etude No. 6, “for Eight Fingers”
Vladimir Horowitz, piano

7) Debussy, Claude: Preludes: Book I: “Des pas sur la neige” (Steps on the snow)
Alfred Cortot, piano

8) Debussy, Claude: Etude No. 9 “Pour les notes repetees” (For repeated notes)
Maurizio Pollini, piano

9) Debussy, Claude: “Children’s Corner”: ‘Golliwogg’s Cake-walk’
Andre Watts, piano

10) Debussy, Claude: “Children’s Corner”: ‘Golliwogg’s Cake-walk’
Claude Debussy, piano

11) Debussy, Claude: “Suite Bergamasque”: ‘Clair de lune’
Friedrich Gulda, piano

12) Debussy, Claude: Pour le piano: Toccata
Samson Francois, piano