Commonly referred to by the opera going public in London as "La Isabella", she is best remembered today for creating the role of Almirena in the momentous premiere of George Frideric Handel's Rinaldo on 24 February 1711 at the Queen's Theatre in the Haymarket (it later became the "King's Theatre" after King George I's accession in 1714) in which she introduced the famous aria "Lascia ch'io pianga".
Burney tentatively connected her to soprano Isabella Calliari from musicologist Francesco Saverio Quadrio's list of singers who were active during the first two decades of the 18th century.
Her only other known stage appearance that year was on 23 March as Mandana in Francesco Mancini's La Isabella.
[4] In 1711 Girardeau was seen at the Queen's Theatre as Climene in Alessandro Scarlatti's Pirro e Demetrio, Fronima in Bononcini's Etearco, and Almirena in the momentous premiere of George Frideric Handel's Rinaldo.
A tremendous success with the public, a further 12 performances were immediately scheduled after its premiere; at the end of the run, popular demand was such that two more were added.