Old French custom?

[Jane Simpson]

I'm just reading a biography of Harald Lander and have got to the bit where Etudes has its premiere at the Opera. It was a great success and Svend Kragh Jacobsen, reviewing it, said that during the curtain calls,

"The gorgeous Mademoiselle Bardin [who had danced the ballerina role] stepped forward and, as is the French custom, read the programme in a sweet little ballet-girl voice, which had a great deal of difficulty with Danish names. then everyone who had contributed to the evening's success came on stage..."

I've never heard of this happening - can anyone remember it? (Assuming it's not still like that - don't think I've been to a first night in Paris!)