Lakme is a wonderful discovery

"With Tom Boyd's sparkling libretto complementing Delibes' enchanting melodies, Lakme was, by common assent, their best production to date".(Wilts and Gloucestershire STANDARD)

 

Tom Boyd's English version is set in West Bengal at the peak of the British Raj, c. 1910.

The 19th century French recits - turgid, dull and so historically inaccurate as to be absurd - have been replaced by sparky characterful spoken dialogue that moves the story along at twice the pace, and employs the rich authentic language of the British military and colonial establishment and the indiginous Bengalis during the era when Edward VII of England was King Emperor of India.

 

ACT I - The Morning Puja - beginning of the opera

to see all the words in the clip, click here

 

 

ACT I - The flower duet

to see all the words in the clip, click here

 

 

ACT I - Geralds's aria

to see all the words in the clip, click here

 

 

ACT II - Nilakantha's aria

to see all the words in the clip, click here

 

 

ACT II - The Bell Song

to see all the words in the clip, click here

 

ACT II - Lakme/Gerald Love Duet

to see all the words in the clip, click here

 

 ACT III - Gerald's final song (cantilene)

to see all the words in the clip, click here

 

Licensing agent: Bel Canto Opera, Poulton House, Cirencester Glos.GL7 5HW. email: belcanto.opera@btinternet.com

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