Léo Delibes(1836-1691)

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Léo Delibes, in full

Clément-Philibert-Léo Delibes, (born February 21, 1836, Saint-Germain-du-Val, France—died January 16, 1891, Paris), French opera and ballet composer who was the first to write music of high quality for the ballet. His pioneering symphonic work for the ballet opened up a field for serious composers, and his influence can be traced in the work of Tchaikovsky and others who wrote for the dance. His own music—light, graceful, elegant, with a tendency toward exoticism—reflects the spirit of the Second Empire in France.

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https://www.britannica.com/biography/Leo-Delibes

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Synopsis:The people who sing it in the opera. The women have taken a trip down to the riverbank to pick flowers and bathe in the river, and from this they begin to sing Flower Duet. Below are the original French lyrics, an English translation, and the character that sings the different lines: 

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https://classicalexburns.com/2019/10/09/leo-delibes-flower-duet-the-prettiest-of-petals/

 Lakmé

libretto by :​Edmond Gondinet

and Philippe Emile François Gille

Act : I 
Language : French
First performance: Paris in 1883
Adapted from(Based on): Le Mariage de Loti by Pierre Loti, and Les babouches du Brahamane by Théodore Pavie  

Type : Aria
Role : Lakme,Malika(servant)
Setting : Delibes' Lakme takes place in late 19th century India. Due to British rule, many Indians practiced Hinduism in secret.

This opera tells a story about tragic love between the daughter of a Hindu priest and a British military officer during the British Raj in India in the 19th century, this type of relationship was forbidden in colonial India, and her father wasn’t happy with it. The story ends with the officer falling out of love and going back to swear duty to his job, and with Lakmé, well… Killing herself with poison.

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The music:

Written in a lilting 6/8 time signature, Flower Duet is a beautiful homage to the beautiful flowers the women have found surrounding the riverbank. Largely in B major, this song is less about extravagant key changes, but the melodic framework and portraying the lyrics in a certain way. The lyrics are innocent and the way the voices move together symbolizes this.

Within the first bar the voices are singing in a call and response style, but this soon changes when they come together in the line ‘À la rose s’assemble’. This line, which is about blend between the different flowers on the riverbank is represented through the voices coming together and blending on this ascending melodic line. The word painting that Delibes uses throughout this aria is effective, and brings the two voices together on pinnacle lines.

Flower Duet describes Lakmé’s picturesque surroundings, which gives the listener a sense of a tranquil, idyllic world. There is also a sense of naivety within this aria. The lyrics are innocent and the way it is sung highlights the lyrics and the easy-going nature of the song. Delibes’ subtle use of dynamic and tempo changes enhances the effect of the voices, both together and on their own. This aria exudes beauty and the way the two sopranos move together is elegant, but without taking anything away from the lyrics. Still regularly performed and recorded today, Flower Duet is a timeless classic.

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Léo Delibes 'Flower Duet': The Prettiest of Petals

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