Juliette Bilbaut-Vauchelet by Carjat

Juliette Bilbaut-Vauchelet (1855-1925); French soprano.

She studied at the Conservatoire National de Paris and graduated in 1874 winning a "Prix du Conservatoire". Next she sang the role of Lucrezia in Auber's "Actéon" at the Opéra-Comique. She then settled in her hometown Douai as a music and singing teacher. Director Léon Carvalho invited her in 1877 for his Opéra-Comique, where at her debut as Isabelle in Herald's "Le Pré aux clercs", she achieved a spectacular success. She became one of the prima donnas of the Opéra-Comique. In 1878 she created the title role at the première of Paladilhe's opera "Suzanne", together with her future husband the tenor Charles-Auguste Nicot (1843-1899) who she married in 1881. In 1880 she created the role of Arlette at the première of "Jean de Nivelle" by Léo Delibes. She remained at the Opéra-Comique until 1884 and she made guest appearances at Monte Carlo and Brussels. Her daughter Marianne Nicot-Vauchelet (1882-1935) -also a soprano- was engaged at the Opéra-Comique during the seasons 1909/12.