The Flower Duet Comes Home in Delibes' 'Lakmé'
Introduction
By Lisa Simone
THE HIT SINGLE: "The Flower Duet"
This duet from Act 1 of Lakmé has been a musical star everywhere from horror movies (!?) to dreamy television commercials. It's sung early in the opera by Lakmé (soprano Julia Bauer) and her servant Mallika (mezzo-soprano Élodie Méchain), as the two young women approach a gently flowing river to gather flowers.
THE B SIDE: "The Bell Song"
In Act 2, Nilakantha urges Lakme to sing the spectacular "Bell Song," as part of his plan to lure the British officer Gerald into a trap, and put a stop to their budding relationship.