Léo Delibes

Clément Philibert Léo Delibes (French: [klemɑ̃ filibɛʁ leo dəlib]; 21 February 1836 – 16 January 1891) was a French Romantic composer, best known for his ballets and operas. His works include the ballets Coppélia (1870) and Sylvia (1876) and the opera Lakmé (1883), which includes the well-known "Flower Duet".

Born into a musical family, Delibes enrolled at France's foremost music academy, the Conservatoire de Paris, when he was twelve, studying under several professors including Adolphe Adam. After composing light comic opérettes in the 1850s and 1860s, while also serving as a church organist, Delibes achieved public recognition for his music for the ballet La Source in 1866. His later ballets Coppélia and Sylvia were key works in the development of modern ballet, giving the music much greater importance than previously. He composed a small number of mélodies, some of which are still performed frequently.

Delibes had several attempts at writing more serious operas, and achieved a considerable critical and commercial success in 1883 with Lakmé. In his later years he joined the faculty of the Conservatoire, teaching composition. He died at his home in Paris at the age of 54. Coppélia and Sylvia remain core works in the international ballet repertoire, and Lakmé is revived from time to time in opera houses.

Birth and Death Data: Born February 21, 1836 (La Flèche), Died January 16, 1891 (Paris)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1900 - 1942

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, lyricist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 51-75 of 196 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-23437 10-in. 10/27/1919 Passepied Mischa Elman Violin solo, with piano composer  
Victor C-24379 12-in. 8/12/1920 Lakmé fantasie Orville Harrold Tenor vocal solo, with harp and orchestra composer  
Victor B-25535 10-in. 8/26/1921 Pizzicato polka Victor Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor B-28494 10-in. 9/21/1923 Fantaisie aux divins mensonges Tito Schipa Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-28494 10-in. 11/25/1925 Fantaisie aux divins mensonges Tito Schipa Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-28617 10-in. 9/28/1923 Coppélia ballet : Entr'acte and waltz Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Symphony Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor B-28618 10-in. 9/28/1923 Naïla ballet : Intermezzo Rosario Bourdon ; Victor Symphony Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor B-28645 10-in. 10/8/1923 Pourquoi dans les grands bois Lucrezia Bori Soprano vocal solo, with violin and orchestra composer  
Victor B-29037 10-in. 11/27/1923 Lakmé, ton doux regard se voile Titta Ruffo Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-30285 10-in. 6/16/1924 Coppelia : Waltz Amelita Galli-Curci Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-31703 10-in. 5/12/1925 Passepied Ossip Gabrilowitsch Piano solo composer  
Victor B-31703 10-in. 1/13/1925 Passepied Ossip Gabrilowitsch Piano solo composer  
Victor C-31850 12-in. 2/16/1925 Arioso Maria Jeritza Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-35175 10-in. 6/3/1926 Bonjour, Suzon Fred De Lima Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor BVE-37802 10-in. 2/8/1927 Strings Victor Orchestra Instructional composer  
Victor CVE-38429 12-in. 4/4/1927 Chacone Irene Gruenberg Piano solo composer  
Victor CVE-41400 12-in. 12/5/1927 Cortege of Bacchus Victor Symphony Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor CVE-42563 12-in. 3/26/1928 Les filles de Cadix Mary Lewis Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor CVE-50789 12-in. 4/3/1929 Oú va la jeune Hindoue Sofia Del Campo Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-51984 10-in. 5/9/1929 Mazurka Motion Picture Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor CVE-59550 12-in. 3/25/1930 Lakmé : Aria Hubert Raidich Male vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor BVE-59725 10-in. 3/26/1930 Où va la jeune Indoue Lily Pons Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-59726 10-in. 3/26/1930 Là bas, dans la forêt Lily Pons Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor CSHQ-73134 12-in. 7/28/1932 Bell song, part 1 Mrs. F. Wagner Soprano vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor CSHQ-73135 12-in. 7/28/1932 Bell song, part 2 Mrs. F. Wagner Soprano vocal solo, with piano composer  
(Results 51-75 of 196 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Delibes, Léo," accessed May 5, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102756.

Delibes, Léo. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 5, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102756.

"Delibes, Léo." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 5 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102756

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