After studying in Lyon and Paris with the famous bassist Louis-Henri Obin (1820-1895), Jean-François Delmas, known as Francisque Delmas made his Paris Opera debut in 1886 as Saint-Bris in Les Huguenots by Meyerbeer. He was quickly promoted to Premier Chanteur de bass at this flagship institution of French opera, where he remained until his retirement in 1927.

Idolized by the public, in a career spanning 42 years Delmas played 66 roles and created 45 in a wide repertoire in both areas of his vocal spectrum: as bass and as a baritone.

He particularly shines in operas by Bizet (Carmen, Les Pêcheurs de perles, La Jolie fille de Perth, Ivan IV), Gounod (Faust, Roméo et Juliette), Thomas (Hamlet, Mignon) and Massenet (Thaïs, Esclarmonde, Ariane, Le Mage), and gives outstanding performances in works such as Reyer's Salammbô (Narr'Havas) or the revival of Etienne Méhul's Joseph (Jakov).

Yet while he brilliantly conveyed the splendor of traditional French operatic style, Delmas is remembered as the incomparable interpreter of Wagner in the French cultural space of his time. Indeed, he took part in all the Parisian premieres of Wagner's works, as a profound bass and heroic baritone.

His artistic legacy places Delmas among the greatest of his genre, along with Plançon, Chaliapin, Didur, Bohnen, Pinza and Christoff.