Jean-Baptiste Faure

Jean-Baptiste Faure began as a choirboy, entered the Paris Conservatoire in 1851, debuted at the Opéra-Comique in 1852 and taught at the Conservatoire from 1857. He was admired for a dark, flexible voice and for interpretation over display. At the Opéra he created Nélusko in Meyerbeer's L'Africaine and Rodrigue in Don Carlos, and Thomas transposed the title role of Hamlet from tenor to baritone for him. He composed songs, among them "Les Rameaux" and "Crucifix". He spent his fees on painting: sixty-seven Manets passed through his hands, including Le déjeuner sur l'herbe, and sixty-three Monets. Manet painted him as Hamlet.