Pierre-Eugène Grenier
Encyclopedia
Pierre-Eugène Grenier was a French actor-singer.
at the Conservatoire
, he won first prize in declamation before making his debuts at the Théâtre de l'Odéon in 1854 in the play The Barber of Seville by Beaumarchais. Specialising in valet rôle, he was taken on by Hippolyte Cogniard at the Théâtre des Variétés
in 1859, where he stayed for the rest of his career, with the sole exception of the title rôle in Rabagas by Victorien Sardou
, which he played more than 200 times at the Théâtre du Vaudeville
in 1872.
At the Théâtre des Variétés, he acted in the main opéra-bouffes by Jacques Offenbach : La Belle Hélène
(in the rôle of Calchas), Barbe-Bleue (comte Oscar), La Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein
(prince Paul), Le Pont des soupirs
(Le Chef du Conseil des dix), Les Braconniers (Campistrous), the second version of La Vie Parisienne
(Bobinet) and La Périchole
(the Viceroy in the two versions in 1868 and 1874). He also appeared in several other pieces, including Monsieur Jules, L'Homme n'est pas parfait, Le Tour du cadran, Le Trône d'Écosse by Hervé
and Les Merveilleuses. He was a member of the Membre du "Comité des Artistes"and died suddenly in 1875. A benefit concert in aid of his mother was organised by his fellow actors on 28 September 1875 – this marked the final stage appearance of the actress Virginie Déjazet
.
Life
A student of Joseph Isidore SamsonJoseph Isidore Samson
Joseph Isidore Samson was a French actor and playwright.He was born at St. Denis, the son of a restaurant keeper. He took the first prize for comedy at the Conservatoire in 1812, married an actress with whom he toured France, and came to the Comédie-Française in 1826...
at the Conservatoire
CNSAD
The Conservatoire National Supérieur d'Art Dramatique is France's national drama academy in Paris...
, he won first prize in declamation before making his debuts at the Théâtre de l'Odéon in 1854 in the play The Barber of Seville by Beaumarchais. Specialising in valet rôle, he was taken on by Hippolyte Cogniard 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:...
in 1859, where he stayed for the rest of his career, with the sole exception of the title rôle in Rabagas by Victorien Sardou
Victorien Sardou
Victorien Sardou was a French dramatist. He is best remembered today for his development, along with Eugène Scribe, of the well-made play...
, which he played more than 200 times at the Théâtre du Vaudeville
Théâtre du Vaudeville
The Théâtre du Vaudeville was a theatre in Paris. It opened on 12 January 1792 on rue de Chartres. Its directors, Piis and Barré, mainly put on "petites pièces mêlées de couplets sur des airs connus", including vaudevilles....
in 1872.
At the Théâtre des Variétés, he acted in the main opéra-bouffes by Jacques Offenbach : 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...
(in the rôle of Calchas), Barbe-Bleue (comte Oscar), 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...
(prince Paul), Le Pont des soupirs
Le pont des soupirs
Le pont des soupirs is an opéra bouffe, or operetta, by Jacques Offenbach. The French libretto was written by Hector-Jonathan Cremieux and Ludovic Halévy.-Performance history:...
(Le Chef du Conseil des dix), Les Braconniers (Campistrous), the second version of La Vie Parisienne
La vie parisienne
La vie parisienne is an opéra bouffe, or operetta, composed by Jacques Offenbach, with a libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy.This work was Offenbach's first full-length piece to portray contemporary Parisian life, unlike his earlier period pieces and mythological subjects...
(Bobinet) and La Périchole
La Périchole
La Périchole is an opéra bouffe in three acts by Jacques Offenbach. Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy wrote the French-language libretto based on the 1829 one act play Le carrosse du Saint-Sacrement by Prosper Mérimée, which was revived on 13 March 1850 at the Théâtre-Français...
(the Viceroy in the two versions in 1868 and 1874). He also appeared in several other pieces, including Monsieur Jules, L'Homme n'est pas parfait, Le Tour du cadran, Le Trône d'Écosse by Hervé
Hervé (composer)
Hervé , real name Louis Auguste Florimond Ronger, was a French singer, composer, librettist, conductor and scene painter, whom Ernest Newman, following Reynaldo Hahn, credited with inventing the genre of operetta in Paris.-Life:Hervé was born in Houdain near Arras...
and Les Merveilleuses. He was a member of the Membre du "Comité des Artistes"and died suddenly in 1875. A benefit concert in aid of his mother was organised by his fellow actors on 28 September 1875 – this marked the final stage appearance of the actress Virginie Déjazet
Virginie Déjazet
Pauline Virginie Déjazet was a French actress.She was born in Paris, and made her first appearance on the stage at the age of five...
.