The bohemian trend in French opera found its most characteristic expression in Louise, an opera now remembered for one exquisite aria. The value of the present recording is two-fold: it shows how much enjoyable music there is in the opera, apart from Depuis le jour, and it preserves near-perfect exemplars of a French style of singing and playing that is all but vanished today. This recording was one of the potted operas that were popular in the 1920s and 1930s. The approval of the composer was sought for this abridgement and the best French singers of the day, Vallin, Thill and Pernet, all famous for their rôles, were recruited, along with the distinguished Bigot.