The career of Daniel François Esprit Auber, which spanned nearly nine decades of the nineteenth century, transitioned from amateur composition to the pinnacle of French musical institutions. Born in Caen in 1782, he became a central figure in Parisian artistic life, serving as a long-term director of the Conservatoire de Paris and producing an extensive catalogue of operatic works.
Early Development and Training
Auber's initial exposure to music occurred within a family environment that valued the arts, as his father was an officer of the royal hunt. Though he spent sixteen months in London after the Treaty of Amiens to study commerce, his musical aptitude led him back to Paris in 1803. He eventually refined his skills under the tutelage of Luigi Cherubini, gaining recognition for his early cello and violin concertos.
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Take the IQ test →The Scribe Partnership
In 1822, Auber initiated a productive professional association with the librettist Eugène Scribe. Over four decades, this partnership yielded 39 operas. Their work, which included the significant grand opera La muette de Portici, defined the tastes of the era. Auber maintained a prolific output in the genre of opéra-comique, composing 35 works that established his reputation across European stages.
Institutional Leadership
Beyond composition, Auber held significant official positions in the French musical establishment. He served as the director of the Conservatoire de Paris from 1842 until his death in 1871. His influence extended to the imperial chapel in the Louvre, where he functioned as director from 1852 to 1870, contributing a variety of liturgical and religious compositions to his body of work.
Fast facts
- Born: 1782, Caen
- Died: 1871, 9th arrondissement of Paris
- Primary Occupation: Composer
- Major Post: Director of Conservatoire de Paris (1842-1871)
- Notable Work: La muette de Portici
- Key Partnership: Eugène Scribe
- Honours: Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour; Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts
- Burial Site: Père Lachaise Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What was the duration of Auber's partnership with Eugène Scribe?
Their collaboration lasted 41 years and resulted in the production of 39 operas.
Which major academic institution did Auber lead?
He served as the director of the Conservatoire de Paris from 1842 until 1871.
Achievements
- Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour
- Notable work: Concert à la cour, ou La débutante
- Notable work: Léocadie
- Notable work: La muette de Portici
- Genres: grand opera, opéra comique and opera
