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Renowned French operatic baritone and composer of art songsCelebrated baritone at Paris Opera who created iconic operatic roles and composed enduring sacred songs, later becoming a distinguished voice professor and art collector.

• Created world-premiere baritone roles in operas by Meyerbeer (Le Pardon de Ploërmel) and Verdi (Don Carlos in Paris)
• Composed the Palm Sunday anthem 'Les Rameaux' (1864), which became internationally popular despite his primary fame as a singer
• Amassed a significant Impressionist art collection featuring Manet and Monet, later sold to fund retirement
• Married soprano Constance Caroline Lefebvre in 1859, but their relationship deteriorated after her affair with a nobleman
• Published 'La Voix et le Chant' (1886), a respected vocal treatise drawing from his 30-year stage career
• Unexpectedly abandoned his singing career at its peak in 1876, focusing exclusively on teaching and composition