Delibes: Lakmé

Premiered in 1883, 'Lakmé' remains one of the most popular of all French operas.

Reflecting contemporary tastes, the original source material presented a tragic liaison between a French officer and a Tahitian woman on a Pacific island, but Delibes moved the location to British-ruled India where the two central characters are torn between passion and loyalty, and assailed by a fanatical...