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 151-175 of 196 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick XC292-XC293 12-in. 5/5/1926 Prelude et mazurka Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra ; Henri Verbruggen Orchestra composer  
Edison 355 12-in. approximately Sept.-Oct. 1910 Dov' è l'Indiana bruna Guiseppina Finzi-Magrini Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Edison 373 12-in. approximately Oct. 1910 Bell song Lucette Korsoff Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Edison 671 Not documented approximately June 1911 Intermezzo Band (unidentified; Edison Records) Band composer  
Edison 702 12-in. approximately July 1911 Bell song Melitta Heim Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Edison 950 10-in. 3/4/1912 Entr'acte and waltz Armand Vecsey Hungarian Orchestra Instrumental ensemble composer  
Edison 2182 10-in. Mar. 1913 Bell song Ellen Beach Yaw Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Edison 2452 10-in. 9/11/1913 Naila Edison Concert Band Band composer  
Edison 2455 10-in. 9/15/1913 Pizzicati Edison Concert Band Band composer  
Edison 2744 10-in. Jan. 1914 Le roi l'a dit : Serenade Charlotte Kirwan ; Matilda Staats Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with orchestra composer  
Edison 4861 10-in. 7/10/1916 Les filles de Cadix Alice Verlet Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Edison 4979 10-in. 9/11/1916 Ou va la jeune indoue Yvonne de Tréville Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Edison 6069 10-in. Mar. 1918 Arioso Pierre A. Asselin Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Edison 6567 10-in. 1/15/1919 Dov'e l'indiana bruna Consuelo Escobar de Castro Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Edison 7201 10-in. 3/8/1920 Stances Torcom Bézazian Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Edison 11003 10-in. 5/25/1926 Fantaisie aux divins mensonges José Mojica Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Edison 11104 10-in. 7/16/1926 Festival dance and waltz of the hours American Concert Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Gramophone 616i 12-in. 4/7/1908 Lakmé, akh, otchego potukhaet vzor tvoy "Nilakantha's aria" - (In Russian) Fyodor Ivanovich Chaliapin Bass vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Gramophone 1455½c 12-in. May 1908 Aria delle campanelle Maria Galvany Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Gramophone 0B2171 10-in. 2/4/1932 Passepied Lawrance Collingwood ; London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Gramophone 2172f 12-in. 12/20/1907 Ou va la jeune hindoue Luisa Tetrazzini Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Gramophone 0B2172 10-in. 2/4/1932 Pavane Lawrance Collingwood ; London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Gramophone 5753h 10-in. 1908 Dans la forêt près de nous Antonio Rocca ; Aline Vallandri Vocal duet (soprano and tenor), with orchestra composer  
Gramophone 5933h 10-in. 1908 Pourquoi dans les grands bois Alice Verlet Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Gramophone 5975h 10-in. 1908 Fantaisies aux divins mensonges Antonio Rocca Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
(Results 151-175 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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