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 1-25 of 194 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]557 7-in. 12/4/1900 Dôme épais Rosalia Chalia ; Jane Frankel Vocal duet (soprano and contralto) composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1399 7-in. 5/20/1902 Bonjour Suzon Monsieur Fernand Baritone vocal solo composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1399 10-in. 5/20/1902 Bonjour Suzon Monsieur Fernand Baritone vocal solo composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix C-]31094 12-in. either 1901 or 1902 Ballet selection from Sylvia Sousa's Band Band composer  
Victor A-277 7-in. 8/15/1903 Ballet—Pizzicato Sousa's Band Band composer  
Victor B-277 10-in. 8/15/1903 Ballet—Pizzicato Sousa's Band Band composer  
Victor C-277 12-in. 8/15/1903 Ballet—Pizzicato Sousa's Band Band composer  
Victor B-428 10-in. 9/17/1903 Les filles de Cadiz Lillian Blauvelt Soprano vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor B-973 10-in. Jan. 1904 Bonjour Suzon Monsieur Fernand Baritone vocal solo composer  
Victor B-1805 10-in. 10/18/1904 Coppelia : Selections Garde Républicaine Band Band composer  
Victor B-1816 10-in. 10/19/1904 Prelude and mazurka Garde Républicaine Band Band composer  
Victor B-2206 10-in. 1/27/1905 Sylvia ballet - marche Arthur Pryor's Band Band composer  
Victor B-2207 10-in. 1/27/1905 Sylvia ballet - valse lente Arthur Pryor's Band Band composer  
Victor C-2311 12-in. 2/17/1905 Stances de Lakme Marcel Journet Bass vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-2414 10-in. 3/25/1905 Sylvia ballet : Pizzicato Arthur Pryor's Band Band composer  
Victor B-2601 10-in. 6/6/1905 Les filles de Cadiz Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor C-2601 12-in. 6/6/1905 Les filles de Cadiz Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor C-3072 12-in. 1/31/1906 Naila intermezzo Arthur Pryor's Band Band composer  
Victor C-4232 12-in. 2/1/1907 Bell song Bessie Abott ; Victor Orchestra Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-4251 10-in. 2/15/1907 Coppelia valse Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor B-4517 10-in. 5/21/1907 Les filles de Cadiz Louise Homer Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor C-4831 12-in. 9/24/1907 Où va la jeune Indoue? Ellen Beach Yaw Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor C-6209 12-in. 5/20/1908 Dôme épais Emma Eames ; Louise Homer Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with piano composer  
Victor C-6225 12-in. 5/25/1908 Dôme épais le jasmin Emma Eames ; Louise Homer Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with orchestra composer  
Victor B-8379 10-in. 11/16/1909 Scarf dance Victor Dance Orchestra Orchestra composer  
(Results 1-25 of 194 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Delibes, Léo," accessed March 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102756.

Delibes, Léo. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102756.

"Delibes, Léo." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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