Léo Delibes

Biography

Léo Délibes, a composer of memorable works for both ballet and opera, was born near Le Mans, France, the son of a postal official. He made his first mark upon the musical world through operetta, at the Folies-Nouvelle, a theater run by Florimond Ronger. Deux Sous de Charbon, “Two Pennies of Coal,” produced in 1856, was the first of his efforts in that line.

In 1866 Délibes collaborated with Ludwig Minkus in creating the music for the ballet La Source (The Spring), with choreography by Arthur Saint-Léon. Délibes contributed the score for Act 2 and for the first scene of Act 3. The critics considered these the choicest parts of the whole, and Délibes’ career entered a new phase.

Sylvia is probably his masterwork. This ballet premiered in Paris in 1876. Though Sylvia fell into obscurity for decades, the Royal Ballet in London revived it in 1952 as a vehicle for Margot Fonteyn.