21 February: Leo Delibes

Born on this date in 1836 was Leo Delibes, French Romantic composer. 10 facts about him.

1. His works include Coppélia, Sylvia and Lakmé, which includes the "Flower Duet".

2. His full name was Clement Philibert Leo Delibes.

3. He was born in Saint-Germain-du-Val, France. His father was a postman and his mother a musician. He was their only child. His grandfather was an Opera singer.

4. His father died in 1847 and the family moved to Paris. At the age of 12 he was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire.

5. As a boy he had a good singing voice and sang in the church choir at La Madeleine. He also played the organ at several churches.

6. One of his teachers at the Conservatoire was Adolphe Adam, the composer of Giselle.

7. Delibes earned a living as a critic; inspector of school music; and accompanist and chorus master at the Opéra.

8. He was one of the first composers to write high quality music for Ballet. He was able to retire thanks to the success of Coppélia and devote his time to composing. He had a yen to compose more serious stuff and wrote a grand scena, La Mort d'Orphée (The Death of Orpheus), and a serious opera, Jean de Nivelle.

9. In 1971 he married Leontine Estelle Denain, who he’d met while working as an organist.

10. He died on 16 January 1891, at the age of 54.

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