This poster advertised an evening of operatic performances at the Parisian concert hall Salle Herz, or Salle des Concerts Herz, 48, rue de la Victoire, built in 1842 by the French pianist-composer Henri Herz and his brother Jacques, as an adjunct to their piano factory. It also notes that the pianos were Herz pianos: 'de la Maison Henri Herz'. It was not one of the major Parisian concert halls but still mounted some important concerts, with Hector Berlioz conducting the premières of two of his compositions there in 1844 and 1854, and Offenbach appearing there as a cellist.

The evening featured the Italian baritone Gustave Garcia (1837-1925) as the main attraction: 'avec le councours de' (with the assistance of) the mezzo-soprano Pauline Viardot-Garcia (1821-1910), the operatic tenor Italo Gardoni (1821-1882), the composer, organist and pianist Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921), and his protégé the composer, organist and pianist Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924). Along with A. Fischer and the pianist M. Peruzzi, this unassuming poster heralds an evening featuring some of the most important figures in 19th century musical history