Danbé won a first prize for violin before founding his own concert series, then taking over in 1877 the musical direction of the Opéra-Comique, which he held for twenty-one years. Under his baton were born Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Lakmé, Manon and Le Roi malgré lui. Here is the man of premieres: he delivered other men's scores, and his name appears on no poster. His subscribers paid for his bust.
The story
Born at Caen on 16 November 1840, first prize for violin in 1859, Jules Danbé played in the Concerts Pasdeloup before founding in 1871 his own “Concert Danbé” at the Grand-Hôtel.
Conductor at the Gaîté-Lyrique in 1876, he became the following year principal conductor of the Opéra-Comique and stayed twenty-one years, until 1898.
Four works the world still plays were born under his baton: Les Contes d'Hoffmann by Offenbach (10 February 1881), Lakmé by Delibes (14 April 1883), Manon by Massenet (19 January 1884), Le Roi malgré lui by Chabrier (1887).
La Basoche by Messager followed in 1890. Danbé was the conductor of first nights: the man who brings other people's scores into the world and whose name stays on no poster.
A chevalier of the Légion d'honneur in 1885, he died on 30 October 1905 and rests in Division 41, on the inner path, third row, beneath a bust his subscribers paid for.
The grave
A stele bearing a bronze bust signed and dedicated by Georges Récipon (1860-1920), commissioned by the Société des Matinées-Danbé — the association of his subscribers. The bronze palm that accompanied it has vanished. The inscription is a family's: “JULES DANBÉ 1840-1905”, then his wife Caroline née Pierron, a son with the first name Amiral, and two more Danbés down to 1978. None of the four Opéra-Comique premieres is named there.
On site, do not miss
The bronze bust by Georges Récipon, signed and dedicated, paid for by the association of his subscribers. The bronze palm that accompanied it has vanished — like Stephen Heller's in Division 90.
Visitors' questions
Where is Jules Danbé's grave?
In Division 41, on an inner path, third row, beneath a stele carrying a bronze bust signed and dedicated by Georges Récipon. The bronze palm that completed the monument has gone, like Stephen Heller's in Division 90.
Edmond du Sommerard, Division 41Which premieres did Jules Danbé conduct?
Four at least that have lasted: Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann on 10 February 1881, Delibes's Lakmé in 1883, Massenet's Manon in 1884 and Chabrier's Le Roi malgré lui in 1887 — then Messager's La Basoche in 1890.
Gioachino Rossini, Division 4Where did Jules Danbé conduct?
At the Opéra-Comique, where he was principal conductor from 1877 to 1898 — twenty-one years. Before that he had conducted at the Gaîté-Lyrique and founded his own “Concert Danbé” at the Grand-Hôtel in 1871, having played in the Concerts Pasdeloup.
Célestine Galli-MariéWho paid for his monument?
The Société des Matinées-Danbé, the association of his subscribers, which commissioned the bust from the sculptor Georges Récipon. Few conductors have had their own audience pay for their tomb: the monument's bronze palm has since disappeared.
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