Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, known in English as Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, is a symphonic poem for orchestra completed in 1894 by French composer Claude Debussy (1862 - 1918). The composition was inspired by a Stéphane Mallarmé poem. It is one of Debussy's most famous works and is considered a turning point in the history of music. Pierre Boulez considered the score to be the beginning of modern music, observing that "the flute of the faun brought new breath to the art of music." For me it was my first experience with Debussy, and it made a lasting impression. The average playing time is 10 minutes (AllMusic). My version is by the Berlin Philharmonic under Herbert von Karajan on a Deutsche Grammophon CD.
