Organization

Singer

Mezzo-soprano

Enkelejda Shkosa

Miss Bentson

Soprano

Sabine Devieilhe

Lakme

Tenor

Xabier Anduaga

Gerald

Bass

Stéphane Degout

Nilakantha

Baritone

David Menéndez

Frederic

Héloïse Mas

Mallika

Inés Ballesteros

Miss Ellen

Cristina Toledo

Miss Rose

Gerardo López

Hadji

Isaac Galán

A pickpocket

Conductor

Leo Hussain

Chorus master

Andrés Máspero

Teatro Real de Madrid

Others

Coro Intermezzo

Orchestra

Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid

French

Lakmé

Madrid

Spain

Teatro Real

Sala Principal

La reducción de las culturas orientales a simples decorados exóticos –o «esencias ficcionales», en terminología poscolonial– es uno de los rasgos característicos del exotismo decimonónico. Lakmé –al igual que antes hiciera L’africaine o después hará Madama Butterfly,each one with different accuracy and sensitivity– thus develops an extremely delicate archetype: that of the romance –generally with a tragic ending– between a Western colonizer and a beautiful and sacrificed Eastern woman. Beyond these debates, this approach allowed European composers to tinge their scores with suggestive fragrances: this is the case of Lakmé, whose "Duet of the Flowers" has nowadays become a universal crossover, in the same way that the protagonist's «Aria de las campanillas» became, from the very premiere of this opera, a workhorse for every self-respecting lyrical-light soprano.
Fortunately, Lakmé is much more than these two numbers: it is not for nothing that Delibes can be considered, along with Tchaikovsky, the best ballet composer of the 19th century. His splendid score will show us how much remains to be discovered in French opera.

La reducción de las culturas orientales a simples decorados exóticos –o «esencias ficcionales», en terminología poscolonial– es uno de los rasgos característicos del exotismo decimonónico. Lakmé –al igual que antes hiciera L’africaine o después hará Madama Butterfly, cada una con distinto acierto y sensibilidad– desarrolla así un arquetipo sumamente delicado: el del romance –generalmente con final trágico– entre un colonizador occidental y una bella y sacrificada oriental. Más allá de estos debates, este planteamiento permitió a los compositores europeos teñir sus partituras de sugestivas fragancias: es el caso de Lakmé, cuyo «Dueto de las flores» ha llegado a ser en nuestros días un crossover de alcance universal, del mismo modo que el «Aria de las campanillas» de la protagonista se convirtió, desde el mismo estreno de esta ópera, en caballo de batalla de toda soprano lírico–ligera que se preciase.

Afortunadamente, Lakmé es mucho más que estos dos números: no en vano, Delibes puede considerarse, junto a Chaikovski, el mejor compositor de ballet del XIX. Su espléndida partitura nos enseñará lo mucho que nos queda por descubrir en la ópera francesa.

Lakmé Delibes

Public

Spanish

English

Approved

La historia de amor prohibido entre Lakmé y Gérald con las voces de Sabine Devieilhe y Xabier Anduaga, también en directo en #MyOperaPlayer desde el Teatro Real 🔴 www.myoperaplayer.com/directos/lakme-directo
#Live #Directo #TeatroReal2122 #Ópera #Madrid #Delibes

Reducing oriental cultures to simplistic exotic decoration –or «fictional essences », in post -colonial terminology– is one of the characteristic traits of 19th century exoticism. Lakmé – as with L’africaine beforehand or Madama Butterfly afterwards, each one with its particular success and sensibility - developed a tremendously delicate archetype of a romantic relationship,   generally with a tragic finale, between a Western colonizer and a beautiful and sacrificial Easterner. Beyond this debate, the approach permitted European composers to tint their scores with an evocative fragrance. Such is the case of Lakmé, where the «Flower Duet», over time, has become a crossover of universal proportions in the same way that the «Bell Song » aria of the protagonist became, from the moment the opera premiered, an insignia of all esteemed lírico–ligera sopranos. 

Fortunately, Lakmé   is much more than these two moments. Not in vain, Delibes can be considered, along with Tchaikovsky, as the leading composer of ballet in the 19th century. His splendid score shows us just how much remains to discover of French opera.

español

Lakmé by Delibes, From (2022/2022), Conductor Leo Hussain, Teatro Real, Madrid, Spain

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Ensemble

Program, About & Synopsis

Videos

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues