 His debut at the Palais Garnier took place in 1942, in Henri Rabaud's "Mârouf, savetier du Caire".The major part of his career was to be spent between these two theatres, where he created some 30 roles, among them the title role in Milhaud's "Bolivar".Bourdin seldom performed outside France, but did a few guest appearances at the Royal Opera House in London (including Pelléas to the Mélisande of Maggie Teyte in 1930), La Scala in Milan, and the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires.