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 76-100 of 196 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor CS-75867 12-in. 6/15/1933 Les filles de Cadiz Louise Russell Holsman Female vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor BVE-81556 10-in. 1/19/1934 Pas des écharpes Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra ; Eugene Ormandy Orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-81557 10-in. 1/19/1934 Scene d'amour variations Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra ; Eugene Ormandy Orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-81558 10-in. 1/19/1934 Scherzo polka Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra ; Eugene Ormandy Orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-81559 10-in. 1/19/1934 Pizzicato polka Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra ; Eugene Ormandy Orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-81560 10-in. 1/20/1934 Cortege de Bacchus Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra ; Eugene Ormandy Orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-81561 10-in. 1/20/1934 Cortege de Bacchus—concluded Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra ; Eugene Ormandy Orchestra composer  
Victor BS-83148 10-in. 5/14/1934 Passepied Bruno Reibold ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor BS-86258 10-in. 11/26/1934 Où va la jeune Indoue? Hazel Glenn Female vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor BS-86259 10-in. 11/26/1934 Où va la jeune Indoue? Hazel Glenn Female vocal solo, with piano composer, lyricist  
Victor BVE-87582 10-in. 1/14/1935 Coppelia : Valse and entr'acte Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra ; Eugene Ormandy Orchestra composer  
Victor C-[Unnumbered 1918-03-15-02] 12-in. 3/15/1918 Entr'acte et valse Victor Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor PCVE-171 12-in. 4/21/1926 Dance of the automatons and waltz Alfred Hertz ; San Francisco Symphony Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor PBVE-181 10-in. 4/24/1926 Intermezzo and valse lente Alfred Hertz ; San Francisco Symphony Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor PBVE-182 10-in. 4/24/1926 Pizzicati Alfred Hertz ; San Francisco Symphony Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor S-232 12-in. July 1907 Baleto Banda de Policía de México Band composer  
Victor S-448 12-in. 11/10/1910 Baleto Banda de Policía de México Band composer  
Victor CS-010970 12-in. 6/29/1937 Coppélia ballet—Suite Boston Pops Orchestra ; Arthur Fiedler Orchestra composer  
Victor CS-010971 12-in. 6/29/1937 Coppélia ballet—Suite Boston Pops Orchestra ; Arthur Fiedler Orchestra composer  
Victor CS-017124 12-in. 11/18/1937 Pourqoi Isidore Luckstone ; Marguerite Starrell Female vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor CS-023954 12-in. 6/29/1938 Intermezzo The Aeolians Instrumental quartet composer  
Victor BS-027236 10-in. 9/28/1938 Les filles de Cadix Frank La Forge ; Lily Pons Soprano vocal solo, with piano composer  
Victor PBS-042103 10-in. 9/13/1939 Les filles de Cadiz Jeanette MacDonald Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BS-074301 10-in. 4/7/1942 Maids of Cadiz Ralph Ginsburgh ; Palmer House Ensemble Instrumental quintet composer  
Victor [Trial 1916-10-12-01] Not documented 10/12/1916 Bell song Amelita Galli-Curci Soprano vocal solo composer  
(Results 76-100 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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