Caroline Girard (7 April 1830)[1] was a French operatic Mezzo-soprano. She was the mother of Juliette Simon-Girard.[2]
Girard was born in Paris and studied at the Paris Conservatory.[1]
She became a principal singer at the Théâtre Lyrique in Paris in 1853, creating many roles including Margot in Le diable à quatre by Solié/Adam in 1853, Columbine in Le tableau parlant by Grétry in 1854, Nancy/Aenchen in Robin des Bois by Weber in 1855, Pétronille in Le sourd ou l’auberge pleine by Adam in 1856, Antonio in Richard Coeur-de-lion by Grétry in 1856, Fatime in Oberon by Weber in 1857, Barbarina in Les noces de Figaro in 1858, Florette in Les rosières by Hérold in 1860 and Papillon/Despina in Peines d’amours perdues by Mozart/Shakespeare in 1863.[2]
Moving in 1863 to the Opéra-Comique, where she was described as a 'dugazon', she made her debut there as Lucette in La fausse magie on 16 July 1863.[3] She took part in the premieres of Les Bourguignonnes in 1863, Sylvie (1864) in the title role, Les absents (1864), Fils du brigadier (1867) as l'hôtelière Catellna, La grand'tante (1867) as La Chevrette, Robinson Crusoé (1867) as Suzanne, and La fille du tambour-major (1879) as the Duchesse Della Volta (where she also appeared with her daughter and son-in-law).[4] At the Bouffes Parisiens she created the role of Léona in Maître Péronilla in 1878.
Her other roles at the Salle Favart included Nicette in Le Pré aux clercs, Suzette in Marie, Mazet in La Colombe, Babel in le Nouveau Seigneur du village, Madeleine in Le postillon de Lonjumeau, and in 1868 she recreated the role of Georgette in Les dragons de Villars. On 24 August 1863, she sang in the cantata Après la victoire by Lefébure-Wély at the Opéra-Comique.
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