Célestine Galli-Marié, a mezzo born in 1837 into a family of singers, created in 1866 the title role of Mignon, which at once became a pillar of the repertoire. On 3 March 1875, she was the first Carmen: the character scandalised the public, the music scandalised the critics, and Bizet died in June without seeing anything of the success to come. Her inscription retains only that role.
The story
Born in Paris on 15 March 1837 into a family of singers — her name was Marié de l'Isle — she learned the trade from the inside and made her début in the provinces before joining the Opéra-Comique.
In 1866 she created the title role of Mignon, by Ambroise Thomas. The work became a pillar of the repertoire: the Opéra-Comique burned down during its 745th performance, in 1887, and the thousandth was given at the Châtelet in 1894, with the composer in the house.
In 1867 she was the first Friday in Offenbach's Robinson Crusoé — a man's part handed to a mezzo-soprano, as the century was fond of doing.
On 3 March 1875 she created Carmen at the Opéra-Comique. The audience took offence at the character, the critics at the music; Bizet died three months later without seeing the success. She went on singing the part, which became the most performed in all opera.
She retired to Vence and died there on 21 September 1905; she lies in Division 57, avenue Neigre, second line. The inscription keeps one role only: “créatrice du rôle de CARMEN de BIZET” — the creator of the role of Carmen.
The grave
The stone chose for her: from a whole career of premieres, it retains only one title — “Célestine GALLI-MARIE creator of the role of CARMEN by BIZET”. Nothing of Mignon, which she created nine years earlier and which the century performed more often, nothing of Offenbach's Vendredi. The epitaph followed posterity rather than the career: it is the role that caused a scandal in 1875 that accompanies her in Division 57.
On site, do not miss
The inscription keeps a single role from a whole career: “creator of the role of CARMEN by BIZET”. She had also created Mignon, which the nineteenth century performed far more often.
Visitors' questions
Where is Célestine Galli-Marié's grave?
In Division 57, avenue Neigre, second row. The stone carries a single mention of her career: “créatrice du rôle de CARMEN de BIZET” — creator of the role of Bizet's Carmen. The Division is also that of the Flandrin painters and the actor Jean Topart.
Jean TopartWho created the role of Carmen?
Célestine Galli-Marié, on 3 March 1875 at the Opéra-Comique. The audience took offence at the character and the critics at the music; Bizet died three months later, on 3 June 1875, without seeing his opera become the most performed in the repertoire.
Georges BizetWhich other roles did she create?
The title role of Ambroise Thomas's Mignon in 1866 — an opera played so long that the Opéra-Comique burned down during its 745th performance, in 1887 — and Friday in Offenbach's Robinson Crusoé in 1867, a man's part given to a mezzo, as the century liked to do.
Marietta AlboniWhere did she die?
At Vence, in the Alpes-Maritimes, where she had retired, on 21 September 1905. Her body was brought back to Père-Lachaise, to Division 57, a few steps from Offenbach's monument — she had created one of his roles in 1867.
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