Antoine Dauvergne

Antoine Dauvergne (1713 in Moulins, Allier – 1797 in Lyon) was a French composer and violinist. Dauvergne served as master of the "Chambre du roi", director of the Concert Spirituel from 1762 to 1771, and director of the "Opéra" three times between 1769 and 1790. Dauvergne contributed both as a performer and composer to the classical music at the court at Versailles.

The name of Dauvergne is first and foremost associated with the beginnings of French comic opera ("opéra-comique"). However, in addition to operas and opera-ballets, Dauvergne composed a number of other works including violin sonatas (1739), trio sonatas, motets, and what he called "Concerts de Simphonies" (1751).

The name Dauvergne is sometimes written D'Auvergne. It means "from Auvergne," the region in the center of France covered by the volcanic Massif Central mountain range.

Discography

*Musique à Versailles - Dauvergne: Concerts de Simphonies. Performed by the Concerto Cologne. (Virgin Classics 2029-08-31 EMI 615422)

ources

* [http://www.goldbergweb.com/en/history/composers/10717.php Article on Dauvergne (in French) in Goldberg Magazine]
* [http://www.operone.de/komponist/dauvergne.html List of Dauvergne's staged works with comments (in German)]
* [http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jean-claude.brenac/DAUVERGNE.htm List of Dauvergne's staged works with comments (in French)]