The wonders of Delibes

by Igor ToronyilalicFriday, 25 June 2010

Before Covent Garden's performance of Manon the other day, I had always presumed I'd rather have my eyes out than listen to an entire opera by Massenet. How wrong I was. This Saturday I hope to be proved wrong again, when my colleague on theartsdesk David Nice will attempt to open my ears to another great French worshipper of the pretty in music, the first true master of ballet music before Tchaikovsky, Léo Delibes - whose music I've been even more studious in avoiding.

Buy

Buy Lyon Opera ballet's Coppélia at Amazon

Explore topics

Share this article

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

more Classical music

Donohoe, Roscoe, Stoller Hall, Manchester review - two great pianists celebrate 50 years The special chemistry of two-piano duet, with virtuosity, humour and depth

Wang, Lapwood, LSO, Pappano, Barbican review - grace and power from two keyboard heroines Full-strength fun on an evening of spectacle and swagger

Beethoven Sonata Cycle 1, Boris Giltburg, Wigmore Hall review - running the gamut From the official first to the toughest – quite a launch for a series this pianist knows well

Classical CDs: Soft toys, starlings and tarantellas French piano duets, a sung ballet plus two discs of viola music

Prom 71, Seong-Jin Cho review - refined Romantic journeys Taste and grace from the Korean prize-winner in Ravel and Liszt

Frang, LSO, Pappano, Barbican review - a concerto performance to treasure Outstanding Elgar and full orchestral throttle in Holst

LSO, Pappano, Barbican review - singular adventures for a new era A quick-change MacMillan premiere finds correspondences in singular Sibelius

First Person: Alexandra Dariescu on highlighting women at the Leeds International Piano Competition A distinguished pianist fights for more balanced international programming

Proms 63-65, Choral Day review - from Harris to Handel/Mozart via Alabama, with love British and American beauties crowned by a cornucopial 'Messiah'

Prom 62, Mahler's Sixth Symphony, Bavarian RSO, Rattle review - sound over momentum Near-perfect playing, but something missing in the overall drama

Prom 61, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Rattle review - Bruckner without tears A lithe, smooth journey around a craggy masterpiece

Prom 58, Orchestre de Paris, Mäkelä review - risky reinvention pays off in part Berlioz fares better than Stravinsky in a master conductor’s fresh takes

Follow @theartsdesk