 Jeanne-Anaïs Castellan entered the Paris Conservatoire aged only twelve and studied there for six years, as a pupil of Laure Cinti-Damoreau and others.Upon completing her studies at the Conservatoire in 1836, she won first prize in singing.She began her career in Italy, singing in Rome, Milan and Florence among other cities, where she met and married the Italian tenor Emilio Giampietro.