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 26-50 of 196 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor C-8400 12-in. 11/23/1909 Scarf dance Victor Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor C-8401 12-in. 11/23/1909 Variation Victor Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor C-8750 12-in. 3/25/1910 Immenso vienteso ... Vien al boscaglia John McCormack Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-8750 10-in. 3/25/1910 Vien nel contento profondo John McCormack Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-8855 10-in. 4/15/1910 Naila intermezzo Pietro Frosini Accordion solo composer  
Victor B-8965 10-in. 5/18/1910 Pizzicato polka William H. Reitz Xylophone solo, unaccompanied composer  
Victor C-10075 12-in. 3/18/1911 Dov'è l'Indiana bruna? Luisa Tetrazzini Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra and bells composer  
Victor B-11232 10-in. 11/14/1911 The maids of Cadiz Lucy Isabelle Marsh Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor C-12228 12-in. 7/24/1912 Coppelia ballet Conway's Band Band composer  
Victor B-12543 10-in. 10/28/1912 Bon jour, Suzon! Charles Dalmorès Tenor vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor B-13811 10-in. 9/17/1913 Good-morning, Sue Ernestine Schumann-Heink Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-14935 10-in. 6/4/1914 Valse lento Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor C-17833 12-in. 6/9/1916 Où va la jeune Hindoue Mabel Garrison Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor C-18595 12-in. 10/31/1916 Dov'e l'indiana bruna Amelita Galli-Curci Soprano vocal solo, with bells and orchestra composer  
Victor B-18959 10-in. 1/4/1917 Pizzicato polka Charles Kellogg Whistling solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-19891 10-in. 5/24/1917 Dans la forêt Frances Alda Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-20467 10-in. 8/1/1917 Mazurka Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor B-20468 10-in. 8/1/1917 Czárdás Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor C-20628 12-in. 8/15/1917 Festival dance and waltz of the hours Victor Concert Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor C-21223 12-in. 12/4/1917 Strings Victor Orchestra Instructional composer  
Victor C-21446 12-in. 2/13/1918 Entr'acte et valse Victor Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor C-22280 12-in. 10/8/1918 O fantasia Carlos Mejía Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-22893 10-in. 6/6/1919 Stances Georges Baklanoff Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-23134 10-in. 9/3/1919 Les filles de Cadix Amelita Galli-Curci Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-23134 10-in. 3/26/1930 Les filles de Cadix Amelita Galli-Curci Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
(Results 26-50 of 196 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Delibes, Léo," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102756.

Delibes, Léo. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102756.

"Delibes, Léo." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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