Jean Giraudeau

Jean Giraudeau (1 July 19167 February 1995) was a French tenor, and later theatre director, particularly associated with the Opéra-Comique in Paris, and described in Grove as having a “lyrical voice” as well as being “a superb character actor”. He left a wide selection of recordings from both his operatic and concert repertoire, and created roles in several contemporary operas.

Life and career Giraudeau's parents were both teachers at the conservatoire in Toulon. After obtaining a degree in law, Giraudeau studied music, winning prizes in song, opera and cello in 1941. His stage debut was at the Opéra de Montpellier in 1942 (Wilhelm Meister) in Mignon. He took part in the premiere of Martine by Henri Rabaud at the Strasbourg Opera House before joining the main opera companies in Paris.

At the Opéra-Comique Giraudeau also sang in Madame Bovary by Emmanuel Bondeville (Charles Bovary), Blaise le savetier by Philidor (Blaise), Ariane à Naxos (Bacchus), Lakmé (Gérald), Le Barbier de Séville (Almaviva), Così fan tutte (Ferrando), Les Indes galantes (Valère), Manon (Des Grieux), Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton) Les Mamelles de Tirésias (le Mari) and L'Heure espagnole (Gonzalve). in 1960 and Du Bartas in the premiere of the comédie lyrique Colombe by Jean-Michel Damase and Jean Anouilh in Bordeaux on 5 May 1961, sang in the premiere of Marcel Landowski's L'Opéra de Poussière, the first 'world premiere' in the history of the Avignon Opera in 1962, and also created roles in operas by Claude Prey; Lui in Le cœur révélateur ou Les voliges in 1964, Schubert: Mélodies De Schubert - Decca – FAT 173512 Stravinsky: Renard (solo) - Adès Stravinsky: Le Rossignol (Fisherman) - Columbia Christmas at Notre-Dame (carols) - Concert Hall BM 2171