Daniel-François-Esprit Auber’s music radiates both his amiable personality and the Parisian elegance of his times. The huge success of his operas resulted in a popularity for these overtures that rivalled that of Rossini, who was an early influence. Auber’s brilliant and energetic style infuses tales of romance both rustic and aristocratic, with moods ranging from dramatic heroism to dashing ballroom dances—all portrayed with the signature charm that made him a standard bearer of musical stylishness and good taste. Auber’s opera La Sirène can be found on Naxos 8.660436. This is the first volume of a project to record all the overtures to his 31 opéras-comiques, seven opéras, three drames lyriques and seven other stage works.