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 religious leader. For this opera Delibes wrote music of indelible beauty, including the much-loved ‘Flower Duet’ and ‘Bell Song’.

Of this Lakmé performance parterre box wrote: ‘The true star of the evening was Stéphane Degout, whose Nilakantha was a commanding presence…His was a large sound, tooled into a fine instrument by a brightness of tone and a clarity of resonance, especially in the upper register. His “Lakmé ton doux regard se voile” was absolutely glorious – simultaneously tender and forceful’.

Alongside his ensemble Pygmalion, which he founded, Raphaël Pichon has performed at the Philharmonie de Paris, the Château de Versailles, the BBC Proms, the Bozar Bruxelles, the Wiener Konzerthaus, the Kölner Philharmonie, and the Palau de la Música Catalana of Barcelona, amongst many others.

Rameau’s Hippolyte et Aricie (2110707/NBD0138V) is another Opéra Comique recording from the same conductor, ensemble and lead: ‘The cast is truly exquisite. Each singer etches a strikingly individual portrayal that projects the story with perfect clarity, enhanced by impeccable diction’ (American Record Guide).

They have also recorded Gluck’s Orphée et Eurydice (in Berlioz’s edition) on Naxos 2110638/NBD0100V: ‘Ensemble Pygmalion’s deeply moving production of Gluck’s Orphée et Eurydice, recorded live in October 2018 at the Opéra Comique in Paris, is not to be missed’, wrote Opera News.

Cast:
- Lakmé: Sabine Devieilhe (soprano)
- Gérald: Frédéric Antoun (tenor)
- Nilakantha: Stéphane Degout (baritone)
- Mallika: Ambroisine Bré, (mezzo-soprano)
- Frédéric: Philippe Estèphe (baritone)
- Ellen: Elisabeth Boudreault (soprano)
- Rose: Marielou Jacquard (mezzo-soprano)
- Mistress Bentson: Mireille Delunsch (soprano)
- Hadji: François Rougier (tenor)

Stage director and costume designer: Laurent Pelly
Set designer: Camille Dugas