Delibes, (Clément Philibert) Léo (1836-1891)

French composer. His lightweight, perfectly judged works include the ballet scores Coppélia (1870) and Sylvia (1876), and the opera Lakmé (1883).

Delibes studied at the Paris Conservatory, where Adolphe Adam was his composition master. He became accompanist at the Théâtre Lyrique in 1853 and was organist successively at two churches. Later he became accompanist and chorus master at the Opéra and in 1881 professor of composition at the Conservatory.

Works Opera Maître Griffard (1857), Le Jardinier et son seigneur (1863), Le Roi l'a dit (1873), Jean de Nivelle (1880), Lakmé (1883), Kassya (unfinished).

Operettas Deux Sous de charbon (1856), Deux Vielles Gardes, L'Omelette à la Follembûche (1859), Le Serpent à plumes (1864), L'Ecossais de Chatou, and others.

Ballet La Source (with Minkus), Coppélia (on E T A Hoffmann's story Olympia; 1870), Sylvia (1876), Le Pas des fleurs; divertissement for Adam's ballet Le Corsaire.

Other incidental music for Hugo's Le Roi s'amuse; Mass; cantata Alger; dramatic scene La Mort d'Orphée; songs; children's choruses.