born in marseille, marguerite baux was the daughter of jean elysée baux (1798–1865), mayor of marseille in 1848, and rosalie eudoxie arnaud (1814–1884). she was recognized for her fine voice while she was still young but had not intended to sing professionally. it was only after her father lost his fortune after the events of 1870 that she went to paris to start her career. on the advice of her singing tutor, henri cohen, she made her début in february 1876 as rachel in "la juive", although initially she had been expected to sing marguerite in gounod's "faust"