Jean-François Berthelier

He initially worked as an office clerk in a bookstore in Lyon, where on the side he appeared on stage as an extra at the Théâtre des Célestins.

His fine voice was noticed, and he made his operatic debut as Fernand in La favorite at a small provincial theatre in Poitiers in 1849.

[2][3] When that theatre closed, he moved to Paris, but after he was refused entry to the Conservatoire de Musique, he turned to singing in cafés-concerts, not without success.

[4] He was spotted by Jacques Offenbach and engaged in the inaugural company of the Bouffes-Parisiens, scoring a success in Les deux aveugles, and going on to triumph in Une nuit blanche (as Paimpol), Le violoneux (Pierre) and Ba-ta-clan (Kokikako); he is sometimes credited with 'discovering' Hortense Schneider.

Berthelier created Chaudillac in Dix jours aux Pyrénées at the Théâtre de la Gaîté, and Benoit in Ninon at the Nouveautés in 1887.