(1) Célestine Galli-Marie (Célestine-Laurence Marie de L'Isle) as Carmen. Carmen premiered at the Opera-Comique (3 Mar 1875) with Galli-Marie in the title role.

The world had to teach the beauties of “Carmen” to the French. It was at first given at the Opera-Comique and failed. The French are slow at learning and assimilation. “Carmen” was too incomprehensible and too original for their lazy ears. The opera was afterward played with so much success in America and Germany that the French at last concluded there must be something in it. It was a great victory for Bizet, when for the second time “Carmen” was given at the Opera-Comique, with Galli-Marie in the title role. Galli-Marie had been the inimitable Mignon and afterward was the inimitable Carmen. Galli-Marie had long ago retired from the stage, but has once more consented to appear for the unique performance given for the benefit of Bizet’s statue. The De Reszkes, Lasalle and Melba will also take part. Neither has ever has even sang “Carmen” in France, and the demand for seats could fill a hall the size of the Coliseum of Rome. Mme. Bizet, who has been offered a box will witness the glorification of her husband’s worth, which will be given with so much the more éclat because it was so long ignored by his compatriots. (Emma Bullet, 28 Dec 1890)

(2) Eugenio Giraldoni as Scarpia (Tosca).

(3) Hariclée Darclée as Tosca. Note her signature and the way she spells her name, which is found spelled many ways in various reference books.

(4) Belgian soprano Marie Heilbronn (Antwerp: 1851* - Nice: 31 Mar 1886). Heilbronn made her debut (1867) at the Opéra-Comique as Alice in the premiere of Massenet's La grand'tante. She created the role of Massenet's Manon at the Opéra-Comique on 19 Jan 1884. Seen here as Manon.

* Date of birth and cities are all over the map! The date here is from The New Grove Dictionary of Opera.

(5) The creators of Des Grieux and Manon, Jean-Alexandre Talazac and Marie Heilbronn. French tenor Talazac (Bordeaux: 6 May 1851 - Chatou, Paris: 26 Dec 1896) created several important roles such as Hoffmann in Offenbach's Les contes d'Hoffmann (1881), the title role in Delibes Jean de Nivelle (1880), and Gérald in Lakmé (1883).

(6) Rosina Storchio as the first Cio-Cio-San, Madama Butterfly.

(7) Feodor Chaliapin in Don Quichotte.