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 126-150 of 196 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 49151 12-in. 3/12/1917 Ou va la jeune Hindoue Maria Barrientos ; Giorgio Polacco Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 49536 12-in. 10/23/1918 Cortege de Bacchus French Symphony Orchestra ; André Messager ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire Orchestra composer  
Columbia 49539 12-in. 10/24/1918 Valse André Messager ; Paris Conservatory Symphony Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 49541 12-in. 10/24/1918 Les chasseresses French Symphony Orchestra ; André Messager ; Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire Orchestra composer  
Columbia 49704 12-in. 11/28/1919 Naila : Intermezzo Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra ; Eugène Ysaÿe Orchestra composer  
Columbia 49789 12-in. 4/13/1920 Valse lente Columbia Symphony Orchestra ; Charles Adams Prince Orchestra composer  
Columbia 49849 12-in. 6/21/1920 Ou va la jeune Hindoue Florence Macbeth Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia W140922 10-in. 9/9/1925 Dans la foret Charles Hackett Tenor vocal solo, with harp and orchestra composer  
Columbia W148026 10-in. 3/5/1929 Passepied Jelly d' Arányi Violin solo, with piano composer  
Columbia W98283 12-in. 6/17/1926 Ou va la jeune Hindoue Eva Leoni Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 5695 12-in. between 1903 and 1907 Entre acto y vals del baileto "Coppelia" Banda Española Band composer  
Columbia 11161 10-in. approximately 1908 to 1914 Aria delle campanelle Guiseppina Finzi-Magrini Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 11168 10-in. approximately 1908 to 1914 Aria delle campanelle Guiseppina Finzi-Magrini Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 75137 12-in. 7/5/1922 Le roi l'a dit : Overture, part 1 Eugene Goossens ; London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 75138 12-in. 7/5/1922 Le roi l'a dit : Overture, part 2 Eugene Goossens ; London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 75149 12-in. 7/7/1922 Coppelia ballet : Entracte and valse Eugene Goossens ; London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 75150 12-in. 7/7/1922 Coppelia ballet : Prelude and mazurka Eugene Goossens ; London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra composer  
OKeh S-794 10-in. ca. Sept. 1919 Waltz of the hours Patrick Conway ; Conway's Band Band composer  
OKeh S-795 10-in. ca. Sept. 1919 Czardas Conway's Band Band composer  
Brunswick [Br cat 20232-b] 12-in. approximately June 1918 Bell song Mme. Nadina Legat Female vocal solo composer  
Brunswick 4320 10-in. approximately Oct. 1920 Les filles de Cadix Virginia Rea Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick X14859-X14861 12-in. 2/8/1925 Prelude and mazurka Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra ; Henri Verbruggen Orchestra composer  
Brunswick 15488-15489 10-in. 4/8/1925 Passepied Albert Spalding Violin solo, with piano composer  
Brunswick E29989 10-in. June 1929 Passepied André Benoist ; Albert Spalding Violin solo, with piano composer  
Brunswick XE30399 12-in. 7/25/1929 Brunswick brevities [program and part unknown] Clevelanders Radio transcription disc : Jazz/dance band composer  
(Results 126-150 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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