on March 4, 2025, former opera director Jean-Louis Pichon died at the age 76.

Le Progrès reported that the police found his lifeless body at his home in Saint-Etienne late Tuesday, March 4.

Pichon was born on Sept. 18, 1948, and went on to study classics. He then researched theatre and in 1969 attended a master’s thesis devoted to Racine’s work.

He became a stage director and actor and worked in theater for several years. He performed in great classics such as “Andromaque,” “Le Cid,” and  “Hamlet” as well as contemporary works.

Pichon went on to direct opera, which was always a passion of his. He first did a production of “Le Testament de la tante Caroline” by Roussel and “Amadis” by Massenet. Others included a new production of Verdi’s “Macbeth” as well as Massenet’s “Esclarmonde” for the Teatro Massimo and Bellini’s “Il Pirata” in Saint-Étienne.

He went on to direct in Liege, Montevideo, Palermo, Saint-Etienne, Nancy, Tours, Nantes, and Martina Franca, among others. He directed works by Donizetti, Verdi, Puccini, and Gounod, among many others.

Throughout his career, Pichon took on the post of director at the Opera de Saint-Étienne for 25 years. He also managed the Massenet Festival.

For his work in opera and theater, he was awarded the Officer in the National Order of Arts.