大象传媒

When Debussy received a commission to write for saxophone he was less than pleased, but there was no getting away from "the saxophone lady" - his commissioner, better known as Elise Hall. Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough tells the story of this rather unhappy collaboration.

The music in this clip are improvisations performed by saxophonist John Butcher, from his album 'Fixations'.

For more fascinating slices of cultural history, listen to Essential Classics' Time Traveller feature every weekday morning after 10.