Delibes: Ballet Suites from Coppélia & Sylvia, Valse from Naïla - Bartók: Divertimento, Sz. 113

Léo Delibes is not only the composer of the famous opera Lakmé: his exquisite ballet scores for Coppélia and Sylvia are notable for their charm and melodic richness. Delibes’ use of leitmotifs and incorporation of folk dances went on to influence other composers, including Tchaikovsky. In contrast, Bartók’s Divertimento for string orchestra, written on the eve of World War II, is a darker and more complex work that blends Baroque forms with an unsettled, modern harmonic language. In these recordings, Sir Adrian Boult once again proves himself to be a particularly inspired conductor, who knows how to draw out the full range of the orchestra’s sound and reveal all the subtleties of each of these works.