Thanks, Midge & WQXR, for the birthday dedication and musical treat! The new recording of Images sounds lovely.

Debussy fans in the area might wish to check out some afternoon performances of his music today and tomorrow in Liberty Plaza, downtown: http://artsbrookfield.com/new_york/http://artsbrookfield.com/new_york/one_liberty_plaza//event_257.htm

Merci!

A new recording of Images would be a nice way to start the day

I would love to hear the new Simon Rattle recording

I vote for Images because it is beautiful and not as familiar as the others.

While all are beautiful Nocturnes gets my vote. Every time I hear it I have to stop what I am doing(unless driving!) to listen.

"La Mer", of course.

Widely regarded as one of the most influential composers of the 20th Century, Debussy wrote two of my favorite pieces of music - "La Mer" and "Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune" - which, at the time, were actually regarded as controversial pieces of music.

I also love the fact that Debussy had a short-lived association with Tchaikovsky's wealthy patroness, Madame von Meck.

A new recording? Even though Sir Simon left Birmingham for Berlin quite a while ago, he brought Birmingham's orchestra up from middling to world class. For me, he is one of the greatest living conductors. So: welcome to the new release, and yes, please let's hear it.

"Image" is my three fold reasoning. Rarely heard, Debussy's paean to three beautiful lands in Europe: England, Spain and France, and a new recording. Choices in order of the shape of the work, hopefully played as a whole this afternoon.

As wonderfully evocative as the other two (and all of Debussy's works) are, I also voted for Images because it gets less air time and I'm curious to hear the new recording. The online sample certainly sounds good. I listen at work via the website stream and it seems to me that La Mer has been plaid a good deal lately.

La Mer is played very often; we've heard it over and over, and although it is a lovely piece of music, change is good. Variety is good. I've had this issue with QXR about playing the same things too frequently and ignoring some other brilliant pieces. Thank goodness for Q2, or whatever it's called these days. I love Nocturns also, but as it's trailing badly at the moment, and as I don't want La Mer to win, my vote goes to "Images".
Joyeux Anniversaire a Claude Debussy! (sorry, I don't have the accent grave on my keyboard for "a")

I've always loved La Mer, AND QXR!

Nocturnes is rarely heard although it is one of Debussy's masterpieces.

It's also my birthday today, so hope my vote for Images counts twice-- or even 22X! :)

"Nocturnes": mystery and the sense of dream-time that comes through with the wordless chorus. Also, as it's the underdog, it deserves to be played at least once.

Was really hoping to see "L'Apres-Midi d'un Faune" in your playlist choices - the piece is what I consider to be one of Debussy's most beautiful, sensual and impressionistic orchestral pieces. Maybe it's so dear in my heart because it was one of the first classical pieces I ever heard "live" when a local orchestra came to perform one afternoon at our grade school. That was the clincher for my love of classical music and it's been a part of my daily life ever since.

Bon anniversaire, Monsieur Debussy!!

I voted for Images as it is one of the least heard pieces of Debussy's. I like them all, but Images gets a vote only for that reason.

Vote on LaMer.

La Mer is a great piece, but a bit overplayed to the detriment of some of Debussy's other wonderful pieces that deserve more air time.
I would be happy to hear either Nocturnes or Images but Images is by far the least often heard so that would be my choice today.

Bon Anniversaire Claude!

Thanks to high school and college band directors who were not opposed to transcriptions, I learned about Debussy by playing his Children's Corner and Petite Suites, Fetes, and March Ecossaise based on Scottish Themes all which helped develop a life-long appreciation for the composer. Your contest selections are as unfair a task as picking a favorite child!