Premiered at the Opéra-Comique in Paris in 1883, Léo Delibes’ opera Lakmé tells the story of an impossible love. Lakmé, the daughter of a Hindu priest, and Gérald, a fickle English soldier, feel passionately for each other. Between these two opposites, refined, poetic music is the medium for expressing the bewitching exoticism of India. Whether through the harmonic warmth of the “Duo des fleurs” or the impressive brio of the unmissable “Air des clochettes”, Lakmé is a rich work, conveying the inspirations of the Orientalist movement of the late 19th century. Souvenirs de Lakmé retains all the delicate charm and intoxicating finesse of the original work.