Composer Daniel-François-Esprit Auber (1782-1871) was a dominant figure in nineteenth century French opera. Working with playwright Eugène Scribe, he produced a number of grand operas, but was most successful as a writer of operas comiques. Auber was appointed head of the Paris Conservatoire in 1842 and was instrumental in building it into the influential institution that it was to remain for many generations. He was best known for his grand opera La muette de Portici, and the comic operas Fra Diavolo and Le Domino noir, but by the middle of the twentieth century they had all but disappeared from the repertoire.