Background

Clément Philibert Léo Delibes was born in Saint-Germain-du-Val, now part of La Flèche (Sarthe), France, in 1836. His father was a mailman, and his mother a talented amateur musician. His grandfather had been an opera singer. He was raised mainly by his mother and uncle following his father's early death.

Education

Clément studied at the Paris Conservatoire under Adolphe Charles Adam. Later he began taking voice lessons, though he would end up a much better organ player than singer.

Career

Delibes held position as a rehearsal accompanist at the Théâtre Lyrique. His first essay in dramatic composition was his Deux sous de charbon (1853), and during several years he produced a number of operettas. His cantata Alger was heard at the Paris opera in 1865. Having become second chorus master at the Grand Opéra, he wrote the music of a ballet entitled La Source for this theatre, in collaboration with Minkous, a Polish composer. La Source was produced with great success in 1866.

The composer returned to the operetta style with Marlbrough s'en va-t-en guerre, —written in collaboration with Georges Bizet, Émile Jonas and Legouix, and given at the Théâtre de l’Athénée in 1867. Two years later came L'écossais de Chatou a one-act piece, and La Cour du roi Pétaud, a three-act opera-bouffe. The ballet Coppélia was produced at the Grand Opéra on the 25th of May 1870 with enormous success.

Delibes gave up his post as second chorus master at the Grand Opéra in 1872 after his marriage. In this year he published a collection of graceful melodies including Myrto, Les Filles de Cadiz, Bonjour, Suzon and others. His first important dramatic work was Le Roi l’a dit, a charming comic opera, produced on the 24th of May 1873 at the Opéra Comique. Three years later, on the 14th of June 1876, Sylvia, a ballet in three acts, one of the composer’s most delightful works, was produced at the Grand Opéra. This was followed by La Mort d’Orphée, a grand scena produced at the Trocadéro concerts in 1878; by Jean de Nivelle, a three-act opera brought out at the Opéra Comique on the 8th of March 1880; and by Lakmé, an opera in three acts produced at the same theatre on the 14th of April 1883. Lakmé has remained his most popular opera.

In 1877 Delibes became a chevalier of the Legion of Honour; in 1881 he became a professor of advanced composition at the Conservatoire; in 1884 he took the place of Victor Massé at the Institut de France.

The composer died in Paris, leaving Kassya, a four-act opera, in an unfinished state. This work was completed by E. Guiraud, and produced at the Opéra Comique on the 21st of March 1893.

Leo Delibes was a typically French composer. His music is light, graceful and refined. He excelled in ballet music, and Sylvia may well be considered a masterpiece. His operas are constructed on a conventional pattern. The harmonic texture, however, is modern, and the melodic invention abundant, while the orchestral treatment is invariably excellent.

Achievements

• His most notable works included the ballets "Coppélia" and "Sylvia", as well as the operas "Le roi l'a dit" and "Lakmé" .

Works

More photos

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  • Lakmé, Où va la jeune Indoue, (As falls the moonlight gently)

    ( Digital Sheet Music of Lakmé, Où va la jeune Indoue, (A...)

  • Le pas des fleurs - Grande valse from "Naila" - Piano

    ( Digital Sheet Music of Le pas des fleurs - Grande valse...)

  • Le Roi s'amuse: Passepied (Violin II Part) - Violin 2

    ( Digital Sheet Music of Le Roi s'amuse: Passepied (Violi...)

  • Pizzicato from "Sylvia"

    ( Digital Sheet Music of Pizzicato from "Sylvia" Compose...)

  • Valse lente - Piano

    ( Digital Sheet Music of Valse lente - Piano Composed by...)

  • Bonjour, Suzon!

    ( Digital Sheet Music of Bonjour, Suzon! Composed by: Lé...)

  • Delibes, Leo : Jean de Nivelle

    (Delibes, Leo : Jean de Nivelle, opéra en trois actes avec...)

  • Pizzicato from

    (This sheet music was newly engraved from early and author...)

  • Sylvia, Divertissement, No. 16b: Violon Solo (Piano Reduction)

    ( Digital Sheet Music of Sylvia, Divertissement, No. 16b:...)

Connections

In 1872 Delibes married the daughter of Mademoiselle Denain, formerly an actress at the Comédie Française.