Pizzicati from Sylvia

Leo Delibes was born in Saint-Germain-du-Val in 1836 and died in Paris in 1891. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire, where Adam was his composition teacher. He was appointed accompanist at the Theiitre Lyrique in 1853, and was organist at two different churches in succession. He later joined the Opera as accompanist and chorus maste. In 1881 he became Professor of Composition at the Conservatoire.

Delibes composed many operatic works, both serious and light, incidental music, songs, a mass and a cantata, and also wrote music for a number of ballets, the best known being Coppelia, based on E.T.A. Hoffmann's story Olympia. The music which Delibes wrote for the ballet Sylvia includes 'Pizzicati', a piece which will be instantly recognisable. The effect of four bassoons performing the pizzicato patterns will delight audiences, who will also enjoy conjuring up images of dancers appropriate to the ensemble.