Jeanne Granier
Jeanne Granier (31 March 1852 – 18 or 19 December 1939) was a French soprano, born and died in Paris, whose career was centred on the French capital. Life and career. Granier was a pupil of Madame Barthe-Banderali, studying both opéra-comique and Italian music. Her debut was in 1873 at the Théâtre de la Renaissance, replacing at short notice Louise Théo as Rose Michon in the opening run of "La jolie parfumeuse". Thus noticed by Offenbach, she went on to create "Giroflé-Girofla" (Paris premiere), title role in "La Marjolaine", the title role in "Le petit duc , Janot", "Ninella", "Mme le Diable", "Belle Lurette" and "Fanfreluche". She became for a period of 20 years one of the biggest musical stars in Paris, gifted both as an actress and singer whose admirers included Edward VII. Jeanne Granier is mentioned in Proust's "À la recherche du temps perdu". For the gala re-opening of "La Vie de Bohème" at the Théâtre de l'Odéon in 1875, Granier appeared in Act I as Musette, singing "La Jeunesse et l'amour" (with words by Meilhac and music by Massenet); likewise a song for Esmeralda "Mon père est oyseau, ma mère est oyselle  was composed by Massenet in 1879 for the appearance of Alice LODY, as Esmeralda, in Notre-Dame de Paris". On 15 October 1876, she appeared in a benefit performance of "Berengère et Anatole" at the Théâtre de la Renaissance. The title role in Lecocq's "Le petit Duc" became something of a signature role for Granier; not only did she appear in the premiere on 25 January 1878 at the Théâtre de la Renaissance, she also sang the part in revivals at that theatre in 1879, 1881 and 1883; then appeared with José Dupuis in productions at the Éden-Théâtre  in 1888 and the Théâtre des Variétés in 1890. At the Théâtre des Variétés Granier appeared in major roles in revivals of "La belle Hélène", "Barbe-bleue", and "La Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein". Her other premieres at various Paris theatres included "Mlle Gavroche" (at the Variétés), Jacquette-Jaquet in "La Béarnaise" (Bouffes), Therèse in "La cigale et la fourmi" (Gaité) and "Les saturnales" (Nouveautés). Chabrier dedicated his 1889 song "Ballade des gros dindons" to Granier. Later stage appearances included "Joujou" by Henri Bernstein at the Théâtre du Gymnase in 1902, "L'Habit vert" by Robert de Flers and Gaston Arman de  Caillavet at the Théâtre des Variétés in 1912, "Le Ruisseau" by Pierre Wolff at the Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin in 1913 and "Madame" by Abel Hermant and Alfred Savoir at the Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin in 1914.