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.

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.

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