Born near Paris in 1862, Claude Debussy was one of the most influentialomposers of his age, affecting profoundly the works of later generations ofomposers, both in his native France and elsewhere. He was trained at thearis Conservatoire, and decided there on a career as a composer rather thans a pianist, his original intention. His highly characteristic musicalanguage, thoroughly French in inspiration, extended the contemporary limitsf harmony and form, with a remarkably delicate command of nuance, whether inomposition for the piano or in the handling of a relatively large orchestra.onsidered by many to be the most important composer of piano music sincehopin, Debussy also produced a single opera, "Pelleas et Melisande", whichrought an entirely new tone to the genre. This, however, was his onlyompleted opera and instead his work predominantly comprises orchestralieces, piano sets and songs. The orchestral works include "The Threeocturnes" (1899), "The Three Images" (1912) and "The Ballet Jeux" (1913).;ebussy's piano music begins with works that, Verlaine fashion, look back at