[1] Born in Marseilles, Constantin studied at the Paris Conservatoire, entering the composition class of Ambroise Thomas in June 1858.
He was music director of Louis Martinet's Théâtre des Fantaisies-Parisiennes from 1865 where he revived rare operas by Schubert, Donizetti, Weber, Hérold, Monsigny and Philidor.
He also completed and conducted the stage premiere of Mozart's L'Oca del Cairo (as L'Oie de Caire) on 6 June 1867 at the Théâtre des Fantaisies-Parisiennes; his version was later revived elsewhere.
He conducted the orchestra in the premier run of L'Arlésienne by Alphonse Daudet with incidental music by Bizet.
[4] Constantin also directed the orchestra at the Théâtre de la Renaissance from March 1873 and was music director at the Paris Opéra-Comique from the death of Adolphe Deloffre until September 1876.