The composer himself penned the French libretto with contributions from Saint-Pol-Roux, a symbolist poet and the inspiration of the surrealists.

Musically the work is considered an example of verismo, and marks the beginning of naturalism in French opera.

Louise was premiered on 2 February 1900 at the Salle Favart by the Opéra-Comique conducted by André Messager in a production by Albert Carré.

[3] The opera helped launch the career of the soprano Mary Garden, who sang Louise in Act 3 at the eighth performance.

[4] On 30 April 1900 the Opéra-Comique director Albert Carré gave away 400 seats to Paris dressmakers.

[5] The success in Paris led to productions in Algiers, Brussels, Budapest and Milan in 1901 and in Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Geneva and Stockholm in 1902, followed by other cities.

[7] The revival of Louise at the Opéra-Comique on 28 February 1950, with scenery after maquettes by Utrillo and Géori Boué in the title role, celebrated the 50th anniversary of its creation and the 90th birthday of its composer.

The exhausted father comes home from work and his wife and daughter implore him to quit the taxing job.

The curtain rises to a bustling scene where people go about their daily routines and comment about life in general.

The Noctambulist enters and calls himself the spirit of the Pleasure of Paris, and then leaves with the daughter of a ragman.

A cottage overlooking Paris The act opens with the opera's most well known aria, "Depuis le jour"; the lovers have moved into a cottage overlooking Paris and in the aria she sings of her happiness with her new existence and with her lover.

A merry waltz is heard outside and Louise takes it up, singing madly of love and freedom.

Louise was played by Grace Moore, Julien by Georges Thill, and the father by André Pernet.