The score, written from 1881 to 1882, was first performed on 14 April 1883 by the Opéra-Comique at the (second) Salle Favart in Paris, with stage decorations designed by Auguste Alfred Rubé and Philippe Chaperon (act 1), Eugène Carpezat and (Joseph-)Antoine Lavastre (act 2), and Jean-Baptiste Lavastre (act 3). Set in British India in the mid-19th century, Lakmé is based on Théodore Pavie's [fr] story "Les babouches du Brahmane" and novel Le Mariage de Loti by Pierre Loti.
| Librettist | Edmond Gondinet and Philippe Gille (Based on Théodore Pavie's story "Les babouches du Brahamane" and novel "Le Mariage de Loti" by Pierre Loti.) |
| Date of composition | 1882 (1881-1882) |
| Premiered | 1883, April 14th (Opéra Comique) in Paris, France |
| Type | Opera |
| Approx. duration | 120 minutes |
| Spoken language | French |
| Instruments |
Voice (Soprano)
- Coloratura ; Lakmé, a priestess, daughter of Nilakantha
Voice (Tenor) - Gérald, a British army officer Voice (Bass) - Nilakantha, a Brahmin priest Voice (Baritone) - Frédéric, officer friend of Gérald Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - Mallika, slave of Lakmé Voice (Tenor) - Hadji, slave of Nilakantha Voice (Soprano) - Miss Ellen, fiancée of Gérald Voice (Soprano) - Miss Rose, companion of Ellen Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - Mistress Bentson, a governess Voice (Tenor) - Fortune teller (Un Domben) Voice (Tenor) - A Chinese merchant Voice (Baritone) - Le Kouravar Chorus/Choir - Officers, ladies, merchants, Brahmins, musicians Orchestra |
| In listings |
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Famous Works
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| Autotranslations beta |
Léo Delibes: Lakmé Léo Delibes: Lakmé Léo Delibes: Lakmé |
From "Lakmé" by Léo Delibes, here is coloratura soprano Mattiwilda Dobbs singing the Act II aria "Où va la jeune Hindoue?" (The Bell Song). From a live concert in Sydney Australia (1955) with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Joseph Post. Here is a link to my Mattiwilda Dobbs playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA207FD887309138A&feature=plcp