Depuis Le Jour Où Je Me Suis Donnée (From "Louise") / Air Des Bijoux (From "Faust") / Invocation: Avant de Quitter Ces Lieux (From "Faust") / Scintille Diamant (From "The Tales Of Hoffmann") / Barcarolle: "Belle Nuit, O Nuit D'amour" (From "The Tales Of

This 10-inch microgroove record, released by the Philips label under the catalog number S 06025 R, serves as a curated anthology of French operatic repertoire. It brings together iconic arias and duets from staples of the 19th-century canon, including Gustave Charpentier's Louise, Charles Gounod's Faust, and Jacques Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann. Such compilations were common in the mid-20th century as record labels sought to make the high-art tradition of the opera house accessible to the burgeoning home hi-fi market.

The disc features selections that represent the zenith of the French operatic tradition, emphasizing lyrical beauty and dramatic flair. The inclusion of the Barcarolle from The Tales of Hoffmann and the Jewel Song from Faust reflects the era's preference for 'greatest hits' collections that highlighted technical vocal prowess. Philips designed these pressings to provide a sophisticated listening experience for domestic audiences, balancing the grandeur of orchestral accompaniments with the intimate clarity that the burgeoning long-play format allowed for the first time.