Caroline Girard
Introduction '''Caroline Girard''' (7 April 1830) was a French operatic Mezzo-soprano. She was the mother of Juliette Simon-Girard.
Career Girard was born in Paris and studied at the Paris Conservatory.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.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.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). 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.
Roles created at Théâtre Lyrique *Lisbeth in ''La fille invisible'' by Boieldieu, 1854*Simonette in ''La promise'' by Clapisson, 1854*Olivette in ''Schahabaham II'' by Gautier in 1854*Christine in ''Le roman de la rose'' by Pascal in 1854*Ines in ''Une nuit à Séville'' by Barbier in 1855*Don Luiz in ''Les lavandières de Santarem'' by Gevaert in 1855*Georgette in ''Les dragons de Villars'' by Maillart in 1856*Inésille in ''Les nuits d’Espagne'' by Semet in 1857*Nanette in ''Margot'' by Clapisson in 1857*Jacqueline in ''Le médecin malgré lui'' by Gounod in 1858*Myrtille in ''L’agneau de Chloe'' by Montaubry in 1858*Lulli, (breeches role) in ''Les petits violons du roi'' by Louis Deffès in 1859*Laure in ''Gil Blas'' by Semet in 1860*Le Baron de Gonesse/Louis XV in ''Le café du roi'' by Deffès in 1861*Title role in ''L’ondine'' by Semet in 1863
References '''Notes''''''Sources'''* Kutsch, K. J. and Riemens, Leo (2003). ''Großes Sängerlexikon'' (fourth edition, in German). Munich: K. G. Saur. .