Duval was born in Paris, and attended the Collège de Libourne, appearing in the play Les Plus beaux yeux du monde by Jean Sarment.
[3] In Paris she was disappointed at her audition at the Opéra, but was soon engaged at the Folies-Bergère, and sang in the clothed revue, gaining more stage experience; she later commented "Aux Folies, j'ai tout appris!".
Following incorrect administration of cortisone treatment she retired in 1965 from performance and moved to the home her husband had built in Switzerland, while retaining some teaching at the École française de musique.
[8] Other contemporary works included Der Tod des Grigori Rasputin by Nikolas Nabokov (Cologne, 1959), Les Amants captifs by Pierre Capdevielle (Bordeaux, 1960) and Le Serment by Tansman (Nice, 1963).
[3] As well as recordings of all three Poulenc operas, these include Franz Lehár's La Veuve Joyeuse opposite Jacques Jansen for Pathé under Jules Gressier, Florent Schmitt's Psaume XLVII Op.