L'Enfant Prodigue = Der Verlorene Sohn = The Prodigal Son / La Damoiselle Elue = Die Auserwählte Jungfrau = The Blessed Damozel

Released in 1982 by the Orfeo label, this recording brings together two of Claude Debussy's early vocal works: the cantata L'Enfant prodigue and the lyric poem La Damoiselle élue. These pieces date from the composer's formative years in the 1880s, reflecting his early mastery of atmospheric symbolism and his initial steps toward the impressionistic style that would define his later career. The pairing highlights Debussy’s lyrical sensitivity to French poetry and his evolving approach to the vocal medium.

This studio production features a distinguished cast including Jessye Norman, José Carreras, and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, under the baton of Gary Bertini. The recording was noted at the time for its ambitious assembly of international vocal talent, aiming to bring a lush, operatic gravity to Debussy’s smaller-scale works. Critics generally lauded the project for its vocal brilliance and clear, precise sound engineering, which helped elevate the profile of these occasionally overlooked cantatas within the broader catalog of French classical repertoire.