Antoine Dauvergne

Antoine Dauvergne ( born October 4, 1713 Moulins, † February 12, 1797 in Lyon) was a French violinist, composer and opera director of the pre-classical period.

Life

Dauvergnes father was already a musician and at least for a time as " joueur d' instruments" in Clermont -Ferrand. From 1739 Antoine Dauvergne was in Paris, where he perfected his technique of composition with Jean -Philippe Rameau and his violin playing with Jean -Marie Leclair. In 1739 he received the royal privilege of his six trio sonatas op 1 and to publish the 12 solo sonatas op 2. Also in 1739 he became a musician in the " musique de la chambre du roi " and in 1741 the first violinist at the Académie royale de musique, where he worked as one of the conductors 1751. 1762 Dauvergne director of the Concert spiritual and 1764 " surintendant " the royal music.

The proposal to appoint him in 1766 as director of the Paris Opera, was the former holder of the position, Pierre Montan Berton and Jean -Claude Trial, prevented; Finally, both consented and Dauvergne was added to the line of the opera. In May 1780, he was the general manager and remained so until his abdication in 1782. In this position he led, among other lengthy negotiations, on the first performance of an opera by Christoph Willibald Gluck in Paris, he agreed only after the intervention of the queen. After resuming his duties in 1785, he left in 1790 in the turmoil of the French Revolution finally the opera. For his services Dauvergne was knighted in 1786 for the Chevalier de Saint -Michel. Dauvergne moved back to Lyon in 1790, where he died under mysterious circumstances in 1797.

Works (selection)

In addition to 18 works for the stage, where he was pointing the way for the emerging French opéra comique, composed Dauvergne violin sonatas in the Italian style, trio sonatas, symphonies Concerts de (1751 ), French motets and other works.