Jules Danbé (16 November 1840 – 30 October 1905) was a

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

violinist,

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

and

conductor Conductor or conduction may refer to: Music * Conductor (music), a person who leads a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra. * ''Conductor'' (album), an album by indie rock band The Comas * Conduction, a type of structured free improvisation ...

, mainly of opera.

Biography

Danbé was born in

Caen Caen (, ; nrf, Kaem) is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the department of Calvados. The city proper has 105,512 inhabitants (), while its functional urban area has 470,000,Calvados. Trained as a violinist, he was a pupil of Narcisse Girard and Marie Gabriel Augustin Savard, in 1859 winning a first prize for violin. He gained much experience playing in the orchestras of the Vaudeville, Théâtre Lyrique and with the Concerts Pasdeloup, and in 1871 founded the Concerts Danbé at the Grand-Hôtel in Paris, as well mounting concerts at the Salle Herz in 1874 and the

Salle Ventadour The Salle Ventadour, a former Parisian theatre in the rue Neuve-Ventadour, now the rue Méhul (2nd arrondissement of Paris), was built between 1826 and 1829 for the Opéra-Comique, to designs by Jacques-Marie Huvé, a prominent architect. The ori ...

in 1875.''Cinquante Ans de Musique Française de 1874 à 1925.'' Les Éditions Musicales de la Librairie de France, Paris, 1925. Danbé was principal conductor at the Théâtre de la Gaîté-Lyrique in 1876, conducting ''Dimitri'', ''Les Erynnies'' and ''Paul et Virginie'' (whose premiere at the Opéra-Comique he also conducted). Appointed conductor at the

Opéra-Comique The Opéra-Comique is a Paris opera company which was founded around 1714 by some of the popular theatres of the Parisian fairs. In 1762 the company was merged with – and for a time took the name of – its chief rival, the Comédie-Italienne ...

on 2 June 1877, he took up his duties on 1 September that year, remaining until April 1898. His tenure, assisted by Henri Vaillard and Giannini, was considered to have improved the quality of the orchestral playing; in 1889, a performance of the Verdi Requiem drew the comment that the orchestra was probably the best in Paris. As well as conducting the central repertoire at the Opéra-Comique he conducted the premieres of the following operas:Wolff S. ''Un demi-siècle d'Opéra-Comique.'' André Bonne, Paris, 1953. *''

Le timbre d’argent ''Le timbre d'argent'' (''The Silver Bell'') is an in four acts by composer Camille Saint-Saëns to a French libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré. Although completed in 1865, the opera did not receive its premiere performance until 23 Fe ...

'' (Saint-Saëns) 23 February 1877 *'' The Tales of Hoffmann'' (Offenbach) 10 February 1881 *'' Lakmé'' (Delibes) 14 April 1883 *''

Manon ''Manon'' () is an ''opéra comique'' in five acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Henri Meilhac and Philippe Gille, based on the 1731 novel '' L'histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut'' by the Abbé Prévost. It was first ...

'' (Massenet) 19 January 1884 *'' Le roi malgré lui'' (Chabrier) 18 May 1887 *'' Esclarmonde'' (Massenet) 14 May 1889 *''

La Basoche ''La Basoche'' is an opéra comique in three acts, with music by André Messager and words by Albert Carré. The opera is set in Paris in 1514 and depicts the complications that arise when the elected "king" of the student guild, the Basoche, is ...

'' (Messager) 30 May 1890 *'' L'attaque du moulin'' (Bruneau) 23 November 1893 *'' Le flibustier'' (Cui) 22 January 1894 *'' Le portrait de Manon'' (Massenet) 8 May 1894 *'' Sapho'' (Massenet) 27 November 1897 He also conducted an early revival by the Opéra-Comique of ''

Les Troyens à Carthage ''Les Troyens'' (; in English: ''The Trojans'') is a French grand opera in five acts by Hector Berlioz. The libretto was written by Berlioz himself from Virgil's epic poem the ''Aeneid''; the score was composed between 1856 and 1858. ''Les Tro ...

'' (in the same theatre as its premiere) in June 1892 which witnessed a triumphant début for the 17-year-old Marie Delna. Danbé was Director of Music of the Foundation Beaulieu (1888-1905). A member of the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra, Danbé resigned in May 1884 but re-joined on 3 June 1884 and took the Second chair, First Violins, on 14 October 1884, joining

Jules Garcin Jules Auguste Garcin alomon'' (11 July 1830 – 10 October 1896) was a French violinist, conductor and composer of the 19th century. Life Garcin was born in Bourges. His maternal grandfather, Joseph Garcin, was director of a travelling company p ...

, concertmaster, becoming 2nd chef (and concertmaster) on 2 June 1885, replacing Garcin, and retiring from the Société on 3 June 1892. He was a mentor and teacher for

Pierre Monteux Pierre Benjamin Monteux (; 4 April 18751 July 1964) was a French (later American) conductor. After violin and viola studies, and a decade as an orchestral player and occasional conductor, he began to receive regular conducting engagements in ...

, whom he presented for entry at the Conservatoire.Monteux, Doris. ''It's All in the Music: The Life and Work of Pierre Monteux.'' William Kember & Co Ltd, London, 1965. p32. After leaving the Opéra-Comique, in 1899 he moved to the Théâtre Lyrique de la Renaissance, where he conducted a rare production of ''

Iphigénie en Tauride ''Iphigénie en Tauride'' (, ''Iphigenia in Tauris'') is a 1779 opera by Christoph Willibald Gluck in four acts. It was his fifth opera for the French stage. The libretto was written by Nicolas-François Guillard. With ''Iphigénie,'' Gluck took ...

'' in December of that year, and also conducted classical concerts at the casinos of

Néris-les-Bains Néris-les-Bains (; oc, Nerís) is a commune in the Allier department in the Auvergne region in central France. Etymology The name Néris comes from the Gaul God Nérios, a deity personifying the local thermal spring (Latinized to "Nerius") ...

and Vichy. He composed works for violin and was author of a violin method. He received the Légion d'Honneur in 1885.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Danbe, Jules 1840 births 1905 deaths 19th-century French male classical violinists 20th-century French conductors (music) 20th-century French male musicians French Romantic composers French male composers French male conductors (music) Burials at Père Lachaise Cemetery Music directors (opera) Recipients of the Legion of Honour Musicians from Caen