Daniel Auber

Full biography Daniel Auber

Daniel-Franois-Esprit Auber was a prominent French composer of the 19th century , born in Caen on January 29, 1782. Though born into an artistic family, Auber was initially an amateur composer before taking up opera composition professionally in 1820, when the family's fortunes waned. Auber's works were well-received in his time, and he was particularly successful in the genre of opéra comique, which combined spoken dialogue with sung arias.

Auber composed over forty operas, as well as a significant quantity of instrumental and vocal music. His works were notable for their elegance, lightness, and wit, and were characterized by their memorable melodies and rhythmic vitality. Auber's operas often dealt with themes of romance and intrigue, set against the backdrop of historical Europe.

Auber's collaboration with playwright Eugène Scribe was particularly fruitful, resulting in a series of successful operas including "La Muette de Portici" (1828), "Fra Diavolo" (1830), and "Les Diamants de la Couronne" (1841).

In addition to his operatic works, Auber also wrote a significant quantity of instrumental music, including works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, and solo piano. His music was acclaimed in his time for its clarity of texture, orchestrational skill, and melodic invention.

Daniel Auber died in his home in Paris on May 13, 1871. Though his fame waned in the years following his death, his works have been revived in recent years and continue to be performed by opera companies and orchestras around the world.