Clément Philibert Léo Delibes was a French Romantic composer, born February 21, 1836, in Saint-Germain-du-Val, who entered the Paris Conservatoire at age twelve, studying under Adolphe Adam among others, and worked as a church organist and chorister while composing light comic operas through the 1850s and 60s. His 1866 ballet score “La Source” won him wide recognition, leading him to concentrate on ballet with “Coppélia” (1870) and “Sylvia” (1876), both landmarks that brought symphonic depth and harmonic sophistication to dance music. His 1883 opera “Lakmé,” famous for its “Flower Duet,” remains his best-known work outside the ballet repertoire. He joined the Paris Conservatoire faculty as a professor of composition in 1881 and died in Paris on January 16, 1891.

Delibes is credited with elevating ballet music to symphonic seriousness, directly influencing Tchaikovsky (who praised him explicitly) as well as Debussy and Ravel; “Coppélia,” “Sylvia,” and “Lakmé” remain staples of the ballet and opera repertoire today.

Sources:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9o_Delibes