Opera no 134
Delibes: Lakmé
Soloists
Monte-Carlo opera orchestra and chorus
Richard Bonynge
To the older generation Lakme meant the Bell Song: now of course it is associated with the British Airways Duet. I also knew one aria from the opera but otherwise it was new to me. Popular opinion is not always right, of course, but here I think it has picked correctly - these two pieces the highlights of the score. It was good to hear them in context: the duet particularly is referenced several times after the initial hearing and there is a lovely passage when it gradually fades into the background as the two singers lave the stage.
There was much to enjoy in the rest of the opera but I am am not sure that it is strong enough to become a repertory peice. There is an elegance about the score and some attractive melodies but I was surprised how often Delibes seems to be on autopilot in the more dramatic music - he’d clearly mastered all of the cliches of French romantic opera but I am not sure that he had put his own stamp on them. Still I am glad to have heard the opera and seen how the famous moments fitted into the whole..
