Debussy’s aunt paid for his first piano lessons at the age of seven. Debussy was actually born Achille-Claude Debussy, he later reversed his forenames. At eight-teen years old, he started an eight-year affair with the wife of Parisian civil servant Henri, Marie-Blanche Vasnier. “Debussy won the Prix de Rome for composition, with his piece L’enfant prodigue. This meant he received a scholarship to the Académie des Beaux-Arts in the Villa Medici (pictured), and had to complete a four-year residence from 1885-1887. He was pretty unhappy there – sometimes he was so distressed he was unable to compose. On his permanent return to Paris and his parents' home on the rue de Berlin he began a tempestuous relationship with Gabrielle ('Gaby'), Dupont. He ultimately left Dupont for her friend Rosalie ('Lilly') Texier, a fashion model whom he married in 1899, after threatening suicide if she refused him. The couple was forced to flee to England in 1905 after causing controversy in France.”
Debussy’s aunt paid for his first piano lessons at the age of seven. Debussy was actually born Achille-Claude Debussy, he later reversed his forenames. At eight-teen years old, he started an eight-year affair with the wife of Parisian civil servant Henri, Marie-Blanche Vasnier. “Debussy won the Prix de Rome for composition, with his piece L’enfant prodigue. This meant he received a scholarship to the Académie des Beaux-Arts in the Villa Medici (pictured), and had to complete a four-year residence from 1885-1887. He was pretty unhappy there – sometimes he was so distressed he was unable to compose. On his permanent return to Paris and his parents' home on the rue de Berlin he began a tempestuous relationship with Gabrielle ('Gaby'), Dupont. He ultimately left Dupont for her friend Rosalie ('Lilly') Texier, a fashion model whom he married in 1899, after threatening suicide if she refused him. The couple was forced to flee to England in 1905 after causing controversy in France.”