Among the youthful works by Claude Debussy (1862-1918), the mélodie holds an important position. Certainly the genre of song attracted the musician, but circumstances favoured its production. An excellent pianist and facile score reader, Debussy in 1880 became the accompanist for Madame Moreau-Sainti, whose studio of voice was frequented by young women of social standing. There Debussy met Madame Marie-Blanche Vasnier, who made him her accompanist and welcomed him into her family - with the Vasn...