HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

The Overtures of Daniel Auber

Daniel Auber

Born on 29 January 1782 in Caen, Normandy, though military oriented Daniel François Esprit Auber is an obscure composer today, he was consistently popular during his time. He wrote a variety of music but is best known for his 48 operas, most of which premiered in Paris. Auber studied music as a youth yet was sent to London to learn business at age 20. Though having produced earlier compositions, his first to be employed were several for cello used by cellist, Jacques-Michel Lamare perhaps composed in 1803. At the begin, though, with Auber, arrives contrary information: A general consensus has what were at first inaccurately attributed to Lamare correctly credited to Auber. IMSLP, however, reasons that 'Cello Concerto No.1' at the least is wrongly attributed to Auber, actually composed by Lamare. Unable to say with certainty who is the actual author of Auber's early works for cello, I pass those by as a dive too deep to here address. I've left references below which slip by the subject, but nothing discussing the matter conclusively. Leaving aside other types of music that Auber wrote, we herein confine our gaze to his operas, their overtures in particular, as it is these for which he is best known during a partnership of nearly four decades with librettist, Eugène Scribe. Videos below include three full operas among eleven overtures only.

Auber's first opera was a one-act comedie titled 'L'erreur d'un moment' ('The mistake of a moment') which first amateur performance was made in 1805 at the Salle Doyen (Theatre Doyen) in Paris with libretto by Jacques Marie Boutet. That saw revision as 'Julie' toward premiere at the Château de Chimay in Belgium in 1811. Albeit Auber had been studying with Luigi Cherubini, his first several operas were disappointments. Not until 'Le bergère châtelaine' ('The shepardess noblewoman') premiering in 1820 did he score a success, that performed by Opéra-Comique at the Salle Feydeau. The Opéra-Comique was rival to the larger Paris Opera.

Overture to 'L'erreur d'un moment' Comedy in 1 act by Daniel Auber

Premiere 1805 at the Salle Doyen in Paris

Revised as 'Julie' to premiere in 1811 at the Château de Chimay in Belgium

Libretto by Jacques Marie Boutet

Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice / Dario Salvi

Overture to 'Le bergère châtelaine' Opéra comique in 3 acts by Daniel Auber

Premiere 27 Jan 1820 by the Opéra-Comique at the Salle Feydeau in Paris

Libretto by François-Antoine-Eugène Planard

Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice / Dario Salvi

IMSLP Internet Archive

Auber began working with above-mentioned Scribe in 1822, he and Scribe to produce 38 stage works together over the next 31 years, largely a string of happy endeavors. Their first opera was 'Leicester, ou Le château de Kenilworth' premiering on 25 January 1823, a collaboration with dramatist, Melesville, after a work by Walter Scott.

Overture to 'Leicester, ou Le château de Kenilworth' Opéra comique in 3 acts by Daniel Auber

Premiere 25 Jan 1823 by the Opéra-Comique at the Salle Feydeau in Paris

Libretto by Eugène Scribe w Mélesville after Walter Scott

Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice / Dario Salvi

IMSLP

In 1825 Auber joined the Legion of Honor formed in 1802 by Napoleon. He remained with the Legion until 1847, eventually securing the rank of commander. 'La muette de Portici' ('The mute girl of Portici') is a romance set amidst military conflict by Scribe, this during the 17th century Neapolitan revolt against Spanish rule. It was 1830 when Auber's highly popular 'Fra Diavolo' with libretto by Scribe premiered in Paris. "Brother Devil" refers to the Neapolitan guerrilla fighter, Michele Pezza. Come Auber's historical opera, 'Gustave III, ou Le bal masqué' ('masked ball'), in five acts in 1833 with another libretto by Scribe. His solitary fairy opera (fairy tale) arrived in 1835 titled 'Le cheval de bronze' ('The bronze horse'), libretto again by Scribe.

Overture to 'La muette de Portici' Grand opera in 5 acts by Daniel Auber

Premiere 29 Feb 1828 by the Paris Opera at the Salle Le Peletier in Paris

Libretto by Eugène Scribe w Germain Delavigne

Radio Bratislava Symphony Orchestra / Ondrej Lenárd

See Compositions: Operas: Individual below

'Fra Diavolo, ou L'hôtellerie de Terracine' Opéra comique in 3 acts by Daniel Auber

Premiere 28 Jan 1830 by the Opéra-Comique at the Salle Ventadour in Paris

Revised in Italiano to premiere 9 July 1857 at the Lyceum Theatre in London

Libretto by Eugène Scribe

Orchestra conducted by Bruno Campanella at the Teatro alla Scala di Milano / 1992

Nicholas Fuller IMSLP Wikipedia

Come Auber's historical opera, 'Gustave III, ou Le bal masqué' ('masked ball'), in five acts in 1833 with another libretto by Scribe. His solitary fairy opera (fairy tale) arrived in 1835 titled 'Le cheval de bronze' ('The bronze horse'), libretto again by Scribe.

'Gustave III, ou Le bal masqué' Opéra historique in 5 acts by Daniel Auber

Premiere 27 Feb 1833 by the Paris Opera at the Salle Le Peletier in Paris

Libretto by Eugène Scribe w Édouard-Joseph-Ennemond Mazères

Orchestre Lyrique Français / Michel Swierczewski

Nicholas Fuller IMSLP Wikipedia

Overture to 'Le cheval de bronze' Opéra feerie in 3 acts by Daniel Auber

Premiere 23 March 1835 by the Opéra-Comique at the Salle de la Bourse in Paris

Revised to premiere 21 Sep 1857 by the Opéra-Comique at the Salle Le Peletier in Paris

Libretto by Eugène Scribe

Detroit Symphony Orchestra / Paul Paray

Nicholas Fuller IMSLP Wikipedia

Come Scribe's romantic intrigue, 'Le domino noir' ('The black domino'), in 1837. "Domino" doesn't refer to the game piece, but the half mask, in this case worn by the nun, Angèle, in the process of falling in love with one Horace de Masserena of Spain. Another comedy written by Scribe, 'Les diamants de la couronne' ('The Crown of Diamonds'), saw 379 performances by the Opéra-Comique from its premiere on 6 March 1841 to 1889, not to mention performances around the world including Rio de Janeiro in 1846, Boston in 1854 and Sydney in 1863.

Overture to 'Le domino noir' Opéra comique in 3 acts by Daniel Auber

Premiere 2 Dec 1837 by the Opéra-Comique at the Salle de la Bourse in Paris

Libretto by Eugène Scribe

Philarmonia Slavonica

IMSLP Wikipedia

Overture to 'Les diamants de la couronne' Opéra comique in 3 acts by Daniel Auber

Premiere 6 March 1841 by the Opéra-Comique at the Salle Favart II in Paris

Libretto by Eugène Scribe w Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges

Detroit Symphony Orchestra / Paul Paray

IMSLP Internet Archive Wikipedia

In 1842 Auber became director of the Paris Conservatoire. His 'La Sirène' with libretto again by Scribe arrived to Paris in March of 1844. Come 'Haydée' ('The Secret') premiering on 28 December of 1847 with another libretto by Scribe. This is a romantic intrigue set in the sixteenth century with Venice at war against the Ottoman Empire.

Overture to 'La sirène' Opéra comique in 3 acts by Daniel Auber

Premiere 26 March 1844 by the Opéra-Comique at the Salle Favart II in Paris

Libretto by Eugène Scribe

Stockholm Strauss Orkester / Sven Verde

IMSLP Wikipedia

'Haydée, ou Le secret' Opéra comique in 3 acts by Daniel Auber

Premiere 28 Dec 1847 by the Opéra-Comique at the Salle Favart II in Paris

Libretto by Eugène Scribe from Prosper Mérimée's 1830 'Le parti de trictrac'

Stockholm Strauss Orkester / Sven Verde

IMSLP Wikipedia

Auber's last opera with Scribe was 'La Circassienne' premiering on 2 February of 1861. Another romantic comedy, this one is set in Circassia and Moscow during the 19th century Russian-Circassian War. Scribe died 18 days after its premiere on 20 Feb 1861. Auber set music to one more opera by Scribe, 'La fiancée du Roi de Garbe' with assistance from librettist, Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges, that premiering on 11 January 1864.