Pierre Gailhard by Petit

Pierre Gailhard (1848-1918); French bass.
He started his singing studies in Toulouse and continued them in Paris at the Conservatoire National with Couderc and Duvernoy. In 1867 he made his debut at the Opéra-Comique as Falstaff in “Le songe d’une nuit d’été” by Ambroise Thomas. In 1872 he joined the Grand Opéra Paris where he debuted as Mephisto in Gounod’s “Faust”. Here he stayed the rest of his career, both as a singer and as a member of the Executive Board. In 1899 he was appointed Director of the Grand Opéra, from which he retired in 1907. During his singing career he performed in 17 world premières. He made successful guest appearances in Russia and in London.
In 1905 he made 4 gramophone recordings under the name of Pedro Gailhard; the best known recording is the song “La Paloma” that was especially written for him by the composer Yradier.

On the photo he is seen as Saint-Bris in Meyerbeer's "Les Huguenots".