Daniel Auber - Gustave III - First ballet

Auber can be called "the French Rossini", there is just so many things in common between the two. In particular, both composers are credited with the creation of grand opera ("Guillaume Tell" and "La muette de Portici", respectively), their music has an irresistible smile hidden between the instrument lines which makes it perfect for comic opera, though both have written successful tragedies, both were, basically, a kind of person you would like to be friends with. Plus, it's really easy to like the music of both, so wonderful it is.

I just finished listening to Auber's "Gustave III", his second grand opera. It proved a bit of a bust: there is some elegant and beautiful music, in particular, the king's cavatina and his couplets in act two (I actually prefer the last item to Verdi's "Di' tu se fedele"); the finale to the first act and the fourth act (there are five acts in total, more than three hours of music); but the rest is pretty much not on the same level...

Except for one more piece: the Ballet sequence from the first act. The opera actually has two full ballets, the present one representing a repetition in front of the monarch in preparation for the ball, while the second one is the ball itself. The first ballet represents a pastoral scene as Gustav I of Sweden (Gustav Vasa) appears on stage, lonely and tired, his despair is depicted in the Andante; then the mood changes with a brilliant Allegretto as peasants appear on the stage and welcome the king, promising their devotion to him. I especially love the Allegretto which seems to me an almost perfect depiction of happiness with just the right touch of humor. Hope you'll enjoy :)!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Auber
• ballet

[Meyerbeer1]

How wonderful!! Is this the Orfeo-recording?

[LindoroRossini]

No, I don't think so. Here is the recording from which this rendition comes:

Laurence Dale, Rima Tawil, Christian Treguier, French Lyrique Orchestra; Intermezzo Vocal Ensemble, conducted by Michel Swierczewski.

It is wonderful though, isn't it :)?

[eclecticdufus]

It's striking how the libretto for Verdi's "Ballo" follows this one scene for scene, the 5 acts here arranged as 3 but the scenes are the same. I though Auber's Act 3 (the scene at the gallows on the heath) was very impressive and dramatic, if not quite Verdi.

[21donbar1]

Thanks for the Auber selections!! As one of the many raised on Rossini, Donizetti, and those who came after, it is so refreshing to hear someone who is sort of unjustly neglected nowdays. It is easy to see why Auber was so important in his day. And we are indebted to him, just as to Rossini, for grand opera as we know it.

[Erismena]

Un problème : Puccini remplit les salles, Auber était plutôt vide à l'Opéra-Comique cette année... C'est bien dommage, son répertoire est gai, élégant, stylé et accessible.

Une solide re-création d'Auber tous les 3-4 ans à Paris m'irait bien effectivement. Puccini (et toujours les mêmes oeuvres) est trop joué, 2 fois encore cette année à Paris sans compter les récitals.

[marcussalieri]

vive auber  c est romantique fantastique et quelle classe.auber n est pas assez joue.on en a marre d ecouter les jeremiades et pleurnicheries de puccini vive auber

[LindoroRossini]

Don't worry, everything is understandable :)! And yes, "Le domino noir" does have several striking pieces :), I love the Act 2 Finale :)!

[Meyerbeer1]

Sorry for my bad english, hope you understand what i am writing.

[Meyerbeer1]

O yes, very wonderfull Auber did some beatiful music. His Le Domino noir has some striking moments.