Daniel-François-Esprit Auber’s music reflects his amiable personality and Parisian elegance. His operas were hugely successful and their overtures as popular as those of Rossini and Suppé, appreciated for their vibrant energy and range of character. From the subtlety and refinement of Le Domino noir to the Gallic charm of Fra Diavolo and the sensuality of La Circassienne, it is easy to hear how Auber’s name was once a byword for taste and the focus of universal affection.