Jules Massenet (1842–1912) was primarily a titan of the French opera stage, but his piano music also captures his gift for graceful melodies and theatrical flair. His works often feel like "songs without words," demanding a singing, cantabile tone and a fluid sense of phrasing. For the pianist, Massenet’s scores are exercises in refinement and atmospheric storytelling. His music asks for a delicate touch and an ability to convey subtle emotional shifts, mirroring the dramatic sensitivity found in his famous operatic arias.