The ‘Flower Duet’ From the Opera ‘Lakmé’: A Timeless Classic

Poster for 2014 Chilian production of the opera, "Lakmé, by Léo Delibes. (Mujeresymas)

With its beautiful harmonies and melody, the “Flower Duet,” for soprano and mezzo-soprano, has become one of the most famous duets in the operatic repertoire. Some listeners might wonder what this piece is really about, and what makes it a timeless classic.

An Exotic Setting

While often performed as a stand-alone concert piece today, the “Flower Duet” is part of “Lakmé,” a French opera composed by Léo Delibes, first performed in 1883. This is perhaps the Romantic composer’s most famous work. It follows the dramatic love story of Lakmé, the daughter of a Brahmin priest, and a British officer during the British Raj.

Léo Delibes, composer of "Lakmé," in 1875. (PD-US)

Like many other Late Romantic operas such as Georges Bizet’s “The Pearl Fishers” or Jules Massenet’s “The King of Lahore,” the story is set in an exotic location, featuring a culture unfamiliar to the audiences of Delibes’s day. At that time, Western society was fascinated with “oriental” culture and, in this instance, the story is set in late 19th-century India.

In the past, the exotic setting in “Lakmé” helped to drive its popularity in the operatic repertoire. As it remains such a popular piece today, it is not so much for its once-fascinating setting but rather for the sheer beauty of its musical composition. The “Flower Duet,” along with other arias in the opera (such as the “The Bell Song”) became synonymous with timeless beauty, well beyond the original context.

Timeless Beauty

The “Flower Duet” resonates with people today because of the inherent sense of peace that its beautiful melody conveys.

Fittingly, the lyrics of the duet are about beauty itself. As Lakmé and her servant Malika gather flowers by the riverbank, they sing about their picturesque surroundings, giving listeners a sense of a peaceful and idyllic world.

Poster for the 1883 premiere at the Theatre National de l'Opera-Comique for Léo Delibes's "Lakmé." Lithograph. (Public Domain)

As for the lyrics, they are straightforward and almost naïve, almost as if to emphasize the simple and carefree nature of the piece. This lightness is represented by the 6/8 time signature, the use of plucked strings, and subtle changes in vocal dynamics, with successively falling and rising vocal lines.

The two female voices start by singing in a call-and-response style, but they soon intertwine with the line “blends with the rose.” Just as the jasmine blends with the rose on the riverbank, the voices blend and form an elegant melody, almost otherworldly.

Effectively, what Delibes does with this duet is that he paints with words and music. He creates an idyllic scene using music to conjure the sights and scents of a riverside, from its shining waves to its scented flowers and the peaceful sounds of birds. It is almost as if listeners can hear the birdsongs, smell the flowers, and feel the flow of the river.

This is where the genius of this song truly comes in. Through the duet’s breathtaking melody, listeners feel as if they are transported to another world, outside of space and time—a world where everything is simple, carefree, and beautiful. They feel at peace.

An Enduring Classic

Over the years, the “Flower Duet” became a popular concert piece known for its beautiful melody and ethereal harmonies.

Huguette Tourangeau (L) and Joan Sutherland performing the "Flower Duet" in “Lakmé,” in the 1976 production at Opera Australia. (Public Domain)

The duet is regularly performed and recorded, but not for its ease in performing. It is a piece that only the most skilled vocalists can attempt because of its challenging nature. Not only does the duet demand technical agility for the ornamentations and great breath control for the extended melodic lines, but the singers also need to deeply feel and convey the emotions of the piece.

There are many great performances and recordings of the duet by famous opera singers, most notably those of Dame Joan Sutherland and Marilyn Horne, Renée Fleming and Susan Graham, Anna Netrebko and Elīna Garanča, and most recently, Sabine Devieilhe and Marianne Crebassa.

Today the piece has gained an almost pop-classic status, spreading well beyond the scope of classical music. It first became known by the general public in the 1980s, when British Airways used it in one of their commercials. Since then, the duet has been featured in global advertising campaigns, TV commercials, TV shows, and movies.

While the story of the “Flower Duet” might not be familiar with mainstream audiences today, the duet continues to attract people for the same reason as in 1883: its sheer beauty.