RUNDEL VIDEO
Fra Diavolo
Notes available at:
https://www.rundel.de/en/
Overture to the Opera
The French composer Daniel François Esprit Auber (1782-1871) was a successful composer and Director of the Paris Conservatoire. He also was appointed Musical Director of the Imperial Court Orchestra by Napoleon III in 1857. Auber’s music is spirited, appealing and he is widely considered the master of the French opéra comique. Auber’s opera “La muette de Portici” (“Masaniello”) is regarded a landmark of French grand opera, apart from its especial historic importance for what was to become the Kingdom of Belgium.
His most famous opera is “Fra Diavolo” (or “L’hôtellerie de Teracine”), and was first produced in Paris in January 1830. Drawing from his early success, Auber once again relied on the comical aspects of military...