Lakmé

…“Bell Song” from Léo Delibes’s Lakmé (1883). Although Camille Saint-Saëns composed numerous operas, the only work by him to remain in the repertoire is the highly melodic Samson et Dalila (1877). Many of the operas of Jules Massenet, including Manon (1884) and Werther (1892; libretto derived from

…Jean de Nivelle (1880) and Lakmé (1883), his masterpiece. Known for its coloratura aria “Bell Song,” Lakmé contains “Oriental” scenes illustrated with music of a novel, exotic character.

…in the “Bell Song” in Lakmé.

…created the title role in Lakmé, which Leo Delibes reportedly wrote for her.