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 101-125 of 196 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor [Trial 1916-10-28-04] Not documented 10/28/1916 Bell song Amelita Galli-Curci Soprano vocal solo composer  
Columbia 1830 10-in. between January and July 1904 Valse lente Columbia Band Band composer  
Columbia 1831 10-in. between January and July 1904 Pizzicato Columbia Band Band composer  
Columbia 3135 10-in. ca. Jan -Mar. 1906 Stances Marcel Journet Bass vocal solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 4039 10-in. ca. Jan.-June 1909 Où va la jeune Indoue Camille Borello Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 19253 10-in. 3/9/1911 Intermezzo et valse lente Prince's Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 19254 10-in. 3/9/1911 Pizzicato Prince's Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 38205 10-in. 8/16/1912 Circassian dance Prince's Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 45631 10-in. 5/12/1915 Pourquoi donc Isa Jeynevald-Mercier Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 46897 10-in. 7/1/1916 Passepied Little Symphony Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 79846 10-in. 5/16/1921 Les filles de Cadiz Lucy Gates Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 30107 12-in. ca. 1907-Feb. 1908 Lakmé, ton doux regard Charles Gilibert Baritone vocal solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 30113 12-in. ca. 1907-Feb. 1908 Les filles de Cadix Lillian Blauvelt Soprano vocal solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 30471 12-in. 4/21/1910 Sous le dome epais le jasmin Eugenie Bronskaja ; Bettina Freeman Vocal duet (soprano and mezzo soprano), with orchestra composer  
Columbia 30647 12-in. ca. 1911 Les filles de Cadix Olive Fremstad Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 30951 12-in. ca. 1912 Dov'e l'indiana bruna Bernice De Pasquali Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 36494 12-in. 11/22/1912 Lakmé, ton doux regard Hector Dufranne Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 36727 12-in. approximately 1913 Entr' acte et valse Ellery Band ; Taddeo di Girolamo Band composer  
Columbia 37157 12-in. ca. 1915 Bell song Felice Lyne Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 37343 12-in. 7/8/1915 Naila ballet : Intermezzo Prince's Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 37464 12-in. 11/5/1915 Valse lento et pizzicato Prince's Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 37497 12-in. 12/3/1915 Coppelia ballet : Entr' acte et valse Prince's Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 48936 12-in. 9/28/1916 Valse lente Columbia Symphony Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 49070 12-in. 1/15/1917 Waltz of the hours Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra ; Ernst Kunwald Orchestra composer  
Columbia 49150 12-in. 3/12/1917 Pourquoi dans Maria Barrientos Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
(Results 101-125 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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