Jeanne Granier
Encyclopedia
Jeanne Granier was a French soprano, born 31 March 1852 in Paris
, and died there on 18 or 19 December 1939.
Granier was a pupil of 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
in the opening run of La jolie parfumeuse
. Thus noticed by Offenbach
, she went on to create Giroflé-Girofla
(Paris premiere), La Marjolaine, 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 her appearance 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 Théâtre de l'Eden in 1888 and the Théâtre des Variétés in 1890.
At the Théâtre des Variétés
Granier appeared 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), La Béarnaise
(Bouffes), La cigale et la fourmi (Gaité) and Les saturnales (Nouveautés). Chabrier dedicated his 1889 "Ballade des gros dindons" to Granier.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and died there on 18 or 19 December 1939.
Granier was a pupil of Barthe-Banderali, studying both opéra-comique
Opéra-Comique
The Opéra-Comique is a Parisian opera company, which was founded around 1714 by some of the popular theatres of the Parisian fairs. In 1762 the company was merged with, and for a time took the name of its chief rival the Comédie-Italienne at the Hôtel de Bourgogne, and was also called the...
and Italian music.
Her debut was in 1873 at the Théâtre de la Renaissance
Théâtre de la Renaissance
The name Théâtre de la Renaissance has been used successively for three distinct Parisian theatre companies. The first two companies, which were short-lived enterprises in the 19th century, used the Salle Ventadour, now an office building on the Rue Méhul in the 2nd arrondissement.The current...
, replacing at short notice Louise Théo
Louise Théo
Louise Théo , born in Paris, 1854, died there 24 January 1922, was a French singer who gained popularity in operetta in France from the 1870s to the end of the 19th century. She created several leading roles in works by Offenbach, and also toured to the USA.-Life and career:She began singing as a...
in the opening run of La jolie parfumeuse
La jolie parfumeuse
La jolie parfumeuse is an opéra comique in three acts of 1873 with music by Jacques Offenbach. The French libretto was by Hector Crémieux and Ernest Blum.-Performance history:...
. Thus noticed by Offenbach
Jacques Offenbach
Jacques Offenbach was a Prussian-born French composer, cellist and impresario. He is remembered for his nearly 100 operettas of the 1850s–1870s and his uncompleted opera The Tales of Hoffmann. He was a powerful influence on later composers of the operetta genre, particularly Johann Strauss, Jr....
, she went on to create Giroflé-Girofla
Giroflé-Girofla
Giroflé Girofla is an opéra bouffe in three acts of 1874 with music by Charles Lecocq. The French libretto was by Albert Vanloo and Eugène Leterrier.-Performance history:...
(Paris premiere), La Marjolaine, Le petit duc
Le petit duc
Le petit duc is an opéra comique in three acts by Charles Lecocq. The French libretto was by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy.-Performance history:...
, 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
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
. Jeanne Granier is mentioned in Proust's À la recherche du temps perdu.
For the gala re-opening of La Vie de Bohème
La Vie de Bohème
La Vie de Bohème is a work by Henry Murger, published in 1851. Although it is commonly called a novel, it doesn't follow a standard novel form. Rather, it is a collection of loosely related stories, all set in the Latin Quarter of Paris in the 1840s, romanticizing bohemian life in a playful way...
at the Théâtre de l'Odéon
Odeon Theatre
The Odeon Theatre is a theatre in Bucharest, Romania, located on Calea Victoriei, and is one of the best-known performing arts venues in Bucharest. As an institution, it descends from the Teatrul Muncitoresc CFR Giuleşti, founded 1946; it moved to its current location, the Sala Majestic, in 1974...
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 her appearance 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
José Dupuis
Joseph-Lambert Dupuis was a Belgian singer and actor. He was principally active in opéra-bouffe in Paris, in particular at the Théâtre des Variétés.-Career:...
in productions at the Théâtre de l'Eden in 1888 and the Théâtre des Variétés in 1890.
At the Théâtre des Variétés
Théâtre des Variétés
The Théâtre des Variétés is a theatre and "salle de spectacles" at 7, boulevard Montmartre, 2nd arrondissement, in Paris. It was declared a monument historique in 1975.-History:...
Granier appeared in revivals of La belle Hélène
La belle Hélène
La belle Hélène , opéra bouffe in three acts, is an operetta by Jacques Offenbach to an original French libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy...
, Barbe-bleue, and La Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein
La Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein
La Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein is an opéra bouffe , in three acts and four tableaux by Jacques Offenbach to an original French libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy...
. Her other premieres at various Paris theatres included Mlle Gavroche (at the Variétés), La Béarnaise
La Béarnaise
La Béarnaise is an opéra comique in three acts of 1885, with music by André Messager and a French libretto by Eugène Leterrier and Albert Vanloo.-History:...
(Bouffes), La cigale et la fourmi (Gaité) and Les saturnales (Nouveautés). Chabrier dedicated his 1889 "Ballade des gros dindons" to Granier.