A popular French singer, Pauline Viardot had an extraordinary vocal range: she could sing soprano and contralto roles. Berlioz portrayed Pauline Viardot as 'the greatest artist of both past and present'. Enjoying herunique singing career, Viardot, at the same time, wrote 4 operettas, great deal of vocal and instrumental music. Schumann and Saint-Saëns dedicated many of their works to Viardot.