January 29, 1782:
Daniel-François-Esprit Auber is born in Caen, Normandy, Kingdom of France, the son of Jean-Baptiste Daniel Auber, a royal hunt officer, an accomplished amateur musician. His mother gives birth in a stagecoach while travelling to this Norman city.
February 17, 1813:
Le séjour militaire, an opéra comique by Daniel Auber (31) to words of Bouilly and Mercier-Dupaty, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Feydeau, Paris.
September 18, 1819:
Le testament et les billets-doux, a comédie mêlée de chant by Daniel Auber (37) to words of Planard, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Feydeau, Paris.
January 27, 1820:
Le bergère châtelaine, an opéra comique by Daniel Auber (37) to words of Planard, is performed for the first time, in the Théâtre Feydeau, Paris. It is his first success.
July 7, 1821:
Emma, ou La promesse imprudente, an opéra comique by Daniel Auber (39) to words of Planard, is performed for the first time, in the Théâtre Feydeau, Paris.
January 25, 1823:
Leicester, ou Le château di Kenilworth, an opéra comique by Daniel Auber (40) to words of Scribe and Melesville after Scott, is performed for the first time, in the Théâtre Feydeau, Paris.
October 8, 1823:
Daniel Auber’s (41) opéra comique La neige, ou Le nouvel Eginhard to words of Scribe and Delavigne is performed for the first time, in Thêâtre Feydeau, Paris.
November 16, 1823:
A gigantic banquet is given in Paris by the city’s leading artists in honor of Gioachino Rossini (31) in the Restaurant du Veau Qui Tette. 150 guests attend including Adrien Boieldieu (47), Daniel Auber (41), Ferdinand Hérold (32), many singers, actors and artists.
December 5, 1823:
Vendôme en Espagne, a drame lyrique by Daniel Auber (41) and Ferdinand Hérold (32) to words of d’Empis and Mennechet, is performed for the first time, at the Paris Opéra.
April 27, 1824:
Les trois genres, a scène lyrique by Adrien Boieldieu (48) and Daniel Auber (42) to words of Scribe, Dupaty and Pichat, is performed for the first time, in the Théâtre de l’Odéon, Paris.
June 6, 1824:
Daniel Auber’s (42) opéra comique Le concert a la cour, ou La débutante to words of Scribe and Mélesville is performed for the first time, in Théâtre Feydeau, Paris.
November 4, 1824:
Léocadie, a drame lyrique by Daniel Auber (42) to words of Scribe and Mélesville after Cervantes, is performed for the first time, in Théâtre Feydeau, Paris.
March 22, 1825:
Abraham and Felix Mendelssohn (16) arrive in Paris to accompany Abraham’s sister Henriette back to Berlin. While in Paris, Felix will come in contact with and perform for many of the composers and virtuosos of the city including Hummel (46), Auber (43), Kalkbrenner (39), Rossini (33), Halévy (25), Liszt (13), and Kreutzer.
May 3, 1825:
Le maçon, an opéra comique by Daniel Auber (43) to words of Scribe and Delavigne, is performed for the first time, in Théâtre Feydeau, Paris.
February 25, 1826:
On the way to London, Carl Maria von Weber (39) arrives in Paris. During his stay in the city he will meet Luigi Cherubini (65), Daniel Auber (44), Gioacchino Rossini (33), Ferdinando Paer, and Charles-Simon Catel. Hector Berlioz (22), who idolizes Weber, seeks out the German but is unable to find him. Rossini, observing Weber’s terrible health, tries to talk him out of going on to London.
May 30, 1826:
Le timide, ou Le nouveau séducteur, an opéra comique by Daniel Auber (44) to words of Scribe and Saintine, is performed for the first time, in Théâtre Feydeau, Paris. It receives only 14 performances.
November 28, 1826:
Daniel Auber’s (44) opéra comique Fiorella to words of Scribe is performed for the first time, in Théâtre Feydeau, Paris.
February 29, 1828:
La muette de Portici, an opéra by Daniel Auber (46) to words of Scribe and Delavigne, is performed for the first time, at the Paris Opéra. It is a great success with the public.
January 10, 1829:
La fiancée, an opéra comique by Daniel Auber (46) to words of Scribe after Mason and Brucker, is performed for the first time, in Théâtre Feydeau, Paris.
April 12, 1829:
Daniel Auber (47) is elected a member of the Institut, replacing François Joseph Gossec (†0).
January 28, 1830:
Fra Diavolo, ou L’hôtelliere de Terracine, an opéra comique by Daniel Auber to words of Scribe, is performed for the first time, at Théâtre de Ventadour, Paris on the eve of the composer’s 48th birthday. It is a great success and will remain in the repertoire of the Opéra-Comique for 70 years.
July 22, 1830:
The revolutionary opera La Muette de Portici by Daniel Auber (48) and Eugène Scribe is given at the Opéra.
August 14, 1830:
After being closed for two weeks following the July Revolution, the Paris Opéra reopens with the revolutionary opera La Muette de Portici by Daniel Auber (48) and Eugène Scribe.
October 13, 1830:
Daniel Auber’s (48) opéra Le Dieu et la bayadère, ou La courtisane amoureuse to words of Scribe is performed for the first time, in the Paris Opéra.
March 21, 1831:
Giacomo Meyerbeer (39) hosts a dinner in Paris for Nicolò Paganini (48). Among the guests are Luigi Cherubini (70), François-Adrien Boieldieu (55), Daniel Auber (49), and Gioachino Rossini (39).
June 20, 1831:
Le philtre, an opéra by Daniel Auber (49) to words of Scribe, is performed for the first time, at the Paris Opéra.
October 31, 1831:
La marquise de Brinvilliers, a drame lyrique by Luigi Cherubini (71), Adrien Boieldieu (55), Daniel Auber (49), Ferdinand Hérold (40) Henri-Montan Berton, Ferdinando Paer, Désiré-Alexandre Batton, Felice Blangini, and Michele Carafa, to words of Scribe and Castil-Blaze, is performed for the first time, at Théâtre Ventadour, Paris.
October 1, 1832:
Le serment, ou Les faux-monnoyeurs, an opéra by Daniel Auber (50) to words of Scribe and Mazères, is performed for the first time, in the Paris Opéra.
February 27, 1833:
Gustave III, ou Le bal masqué, an opéra historique by Daniel Auber (51) to words of Scribe, is performed for the first time, in the Paris Opéra.
May 24, 1834:
Lestocq, ou L’intrigue et l’amour, an opéra comique by Daniel Auber (52) to words of Scribe, is performed for the first time, in Théâtre de la Bourse, Paris.
March 23, 1835:
Le cheval de bronze, an opéra-féerie by Daniel Auber (53) to words of Scribe, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre de la Bourse, Paris.
January 23, 1836:
Actéon, an opéra comique by Daniel Auber (53) to words of Scribe, is performed for the first time, at Théâtre de la Bourse, Paris.
January 28, 1836:
Daniel Auber is elected to the Académie Française on the eve of his 54th birthday.
April 9, 1836:
Daniel Auber’s (54) opéra comique Les chaperons blanc to words of Scribe is performed for the first time, at Théâtre de la Bourse, Paris.
December 21, 1836:
L’ambassadrice, an opéra comique by Daniel Auber (54) to words of Scribe, is performed for the first time, at Théâtre de la Bourse, Paris.
June 10, 1837:
La fête de Versailles, an intermède en deux parties by Daniel Auber (55) to words of Scribe, is performed for the first time, at Versailles.
November 1, 1837:
Johann Strauss Sr. leads his orchestra in a performance of his Viennese waltzes in Paris before an appreciative audience which includes Luigi Cherubini (77), Daniel Auber (55), Giacomo Meyerbeer (46), Fromental Halévy (38), Adolphe Adam (34) and Hector Berlioz (33).
December 2, 1837:
Le domino noir, an opéra comique by Daniel Auber (55) to words of Scribe is performed for the first time, at Théâtre de la Bourse, Paris.
April 1, 1839:
Le lac des fées, an opéra by Daniel-François-Esprit Auber (57) to words of Scribe and Mélesville, is performed for the first time, at the Paris Opéra.
May 18, 1840:
Zanetta, ou Jouer avec le feu, an opéra comique by Daniel Auber (58) to words of Scribe and Saint-Georges, is performed for the first time, at Théâtre Favart, Paris.
March 6, 1841:
Les diamants de la couronne, an opéra comique by Daniel Auber (59) to words of Scribe and Saint-Georges, is performed for the first time, at Théâtre Favart, Paris.
February 4, 1842:
Le duc d’Olonne, an opéra comique by Daniel Auber (60) to words of Scribe and Saintine, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Favart, Paris.
March 19, 1842:
2,000 people, including many notables, attend the funeral mass for Luigi Cherubini at the Church of St. Roch, Paris at which his second Requiem is performed. Because he was a member of the Legion of Honor, his earthly remains are laid to rest in the Cemetery of Père Lachaise with full military honors. Among the pallbearers are Daniel Auber (60) and Fromental Halévy (41).
December 23, 1842:
The artistic elite of Paris gather at the Hôtel L’Empire to bid farewell to Giacomo Meyerbeer (51) the night before he departs for Berlin. Among those present are Frédéric Chopin (32), Gaetano Donizetti (45), Adolphe Adam (39), and Heinrich Heine. Those sending messages include George Sand, Eugéne Scribe and Daniel Auber (60).
January 16, 1843:
La part du diable, an opéra comique by Daniel Auber (60) to words of Scribe, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Favart, Paris.
March 26, 1844:
La sirène, an opéra comique by Daniel Auber (62) to words of Scribe, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Favart, Paris.
April 22, 1845:
La barcarolle, ou L’amour et la musique, an opéra comique by Daniel Auber (63) to words of Scribe, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Favart, Paris.
November 15, 1847:
Les premiers pas, an opéra comique by Daniel Auber (65), Adolphe Adam (44), Michele Carafa de Colobrano, and Fromental Halévy (48) to words of Royer and Vaëz, is performed for the first time, at the opening of the Opéra-National, Paris.
December 28, 1847:
Haydée, ou Le secret, an opéra comique by Daniel Auber (65) to words of Scribe after Mérimée, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Favart, Paris.
February 24, 1849:
A setting of Domine salvum fac by Daniel Auber (67) is performed for the first time, in the Church of the Madeleine before President Louis Napoleon Bonaparte and the National Assembly.
December 6, 1850:
L’enfant prodigue, an opéra by Daniel Auber (68) to words of Scribe, is performed for the first time, at the Paris Opéra.
May 16, 1851:
Zerline, ou La corbeille d’oranges, an opéra by Daniel Auber (69) to words of Scribe, is performed for the first time, in the Paris Opéra.
October 9, 1851:
Jules Massenet (9) takes his entrance examination at the Paris Conservatoire before a panel of judges including Daniel Auber (69), Fromental Halévy (52), and Ambroise Thomas (40). He is not admitted. See 10 January 1853.
December 21, 1852:
Marco Spada, an opéra comique by Daniel Auber (70) to words of Scribe and Delavigne, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Favart, Paris. Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka (48) is in the audience and, except for the beginning of the overture, finds the music “very unsatisfactory.” Giacomo Meyerbeer (61) is also there.
January 29, 1853:
Emperor Napoléon III of France marries Eugenia de Montijo, a Spanish countess, in a civil ceremony at the Tuileries Palace. A cantata composed for the occasion by Daniel Auber, to anonymous words, is performed, on his 71st birthday.
June 2, 1855:
Jenny Bell, an opéra comique by Daniel Auber (73) to words of Scribe, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Favart, Paris.
February 23, 1856:
Manon Lescaut by Daniel Auber (74) to words of Scribe after Prévost is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Favart, Paris. The work does well tonight but will ultimately fail.
April 19, 1856:
Cantate pour le distribution des prix de la Société des gens de lettres by Daniel Auber (74) is performed for the first time.
December 29, 1856:
A jury of eleven, including Daniel Auber (74), Ambroise Thomas (45), and Charles Gounod (38), announces the first prize in a composition competition sponsored by Jacques Offenbach (37) and the Bouffes-Parisiens. The prize will be shared by Georges Bizet (18) and Charles Lecocq. See 9 April 1857.
April 1, 1857:
Marco Spada, ou La fille du bandit, a ballet by Daniel Auber (75) to a story by Scribe and Delavigne, is performed for the first time, at the Paris Opéra. This is a rewriting of his 1852 opéra-comique Marco Spada.
September 21, 1857:
Le cheval de bronze, by Daniel Auber (75) to words of Scribe, is performed for the first time, at the Paris Opéra. This is a revival of Auber’s 1835 opéra as an opéra-ballet.
July 17, 1858:
The French Minister of the Interior appoints a commission to investigate a universal pitch, what this pitch should be, and how to insure it becomes universal. Much of the investigative work will be done by Hector Berlioz (54). Other members include Daniel-François-Esprit Auber (76), Gioacchino Rossini (66), Giacomo Meyerbeer (66), Fromental Halévy (59), and Ambroise Thomas (46).
March 19, 1859:
Faust, an opéra dialogué by Charles Gounod (40) to words of Barbier and Carré after Goethe, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre-Lyrique, Paris. Among the onlookers are Hector Berlioz (55), Daniel Auber (77), and Eugène Delacroix. The timpanist is a Conservatoire student named Jules Massenet (16). The critics are undecided, but it does establish Gounod’s reputation.
January 25, 1860:
Richard Wagner (46) conducts the first of three concerts of his music in Paris. Attending today at the Théâtre-Italien are Daniel Auber (77), Hector Berlioz (56), Valentin Alkan (46), Charles Gounod (41) and Pauline Viardot (38). The audience is enthusiastic but the press is merciless. Heard tonight for the first time is the Prelude to Tristan und Isolde with the concert ending composed by Wagner. Alkan leaves at intermission, later saying “Wagner is not music; it’s a sickness.” Viardot writes, "Wagner has just given a concert which exasperated three quarters of the audience and delighted the rest. Personally, I found a lot of it painful, even though I admired the vehemence of his musical feelings in certain instances. But the diminished sevenths, the discords and the crude modulations made me feverish, and I have to say that I find this sort of music loathsome and revolting." (Kendall-Davies I, 413-414) See 12 March 1859.
February 2, 1861:
La circassienne, an opéra comique by Daniel Auber (79) to words of Scribe, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Favart, Paris.
July 4, 1863:
Jules Massenet (21) wins the First Grand Prix de Rome for his setting of the cantata David Rizzio. Three of the jurors, Daniel Auber (81), Hector Berlioz (59), and Ambroise Thomas (51) are walking through the courtyard of the Louvre after the vote. They find Massenet hiding under a bench. Thomas tells him, “Give Berlioz a hug, you have him to thank for your prize.”
January 11, 1864:
La fiancée du Roi de Garbe, an opéra comique by Daniel Auber (82) to words of Scribe and Saint-Georges, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Favart, Paris. In the audience is an increasingly infirm Giacomo Meyerbeer (72).
March 14, 1864:
Petite messe solennelle by Gioachino Rossini (72) is performed for the first time, with piano accompaniment, in the Paris home of Countess Louise Pillet-Will. The work was commissioned for the consecration of her private chapel. Although ordered to bed by his doctors, Giacomo Meyerbeer (72) attends, along with Auber (82). See 24 February 1869.
January 7, 1866:
Sérénade op.15 for piano, organ, violin, and viola or cello by Camille Saint-Saëns (30) is performed for the first time time, at the salon of Princesse Mathilde in Paris with the composer at the organ. Among the listeners is Daniel Auber (83).
February 15, 1868:
Le premier jour de bonheur, an opéra comique by Daniel Auber (86) to words of d’Ennery and Cormon, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Favart, Paris.
November 21, 1868:
4,000 people attend the funeral in memory of Gioachino Rossini at L’Église de la Trinité, Paris Hundreds of singers, many of them famous, take part in the music, accompanied only by the organ. Daniel Auber (86) is in charge of the musical presentation, which features works by Rossini and others. The streets along the procession to the Pére-Lachaise Cemetery are filled with onlookers. After many orations, the remains of Gioachino Rossini are laid to rest. In the evening, performances of Rossini’s music take place at the Théâtre-Italien and the Théâtre-Lyrique.
March 11, 1869:
The funeral in memory of Hector Berlioz takes place at L’Église de la Trinité, Paris. The procession to the church is led by Adolphe Sax who directs the National Guard band in Berlioz’ Symphonie funèbre. Illustrious attenders include Daniel Auber (87), Ambroise Thomas (57), and Charles Gounod (50). The music features works of Christoph Willibald Gluck (†81), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (†77), Ludwig van Beethoven (†41), Luigi Cherubini (†26), and the Hostias from Berlioz’ own Requiem. The mortal remains of Louis-Hector Berlioz are laid to rest in Montmartre next to those of his two wives, Harriet Smithson and Marie Recio.
December 20, 1869:
Rêve d’amour, an opéra comique by Daniel Auber (87) to words of d’Ennery and Cormon, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre Favart, Paris. It is Auber’s last opera.
January 22, 1870:
Recitatives and choruses for Daniel Auber’s (87) Le domino noir by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (29) to words of Scribe, is performed for the first time, in the Bolshoy Theatre, Moscow.
May 12, 1871:
Daniel-François-Esprit Auber dies at his home at 22 rue Saint-Georges in the Ninth Arrondissement of Paris, Republic of France, aged 89 years, three months, and 14 days.
May 13, 1871:
The Commune appoints Francisco Salvador-Daniel to replace Daniel Auber as director of the Conservatoire. Auber died yesterday.
July 15, 1871:
A funeral is held in L’Église de la Trinité in memory of Daniel-François-Esprit Auber, two months after his death. His survivors waited until after the fall of the Commune so that he might have a religious service. His mortal remains are laid to rest in Père Lachaise Cemetery.