  Continuous photometry with up to three BRITE satellites was obtained for 12
targets and subjected to a period search. Contemporaneous high-resolution
optical spectroscopy with STELLA was used to obtain radial velocities through
cross correlation with template spectra as well as to determine astrophysical
parameters through a comparison with model spectra. The Capella red light curve
was found to be constant over 176 days with a root mean square of 1 mmag, but
the blue light curve showed a period of 10.1$\pm$0.6 d, which we interpret to
be the rotation period of the G0 component. The BRITE light curve of the F0
supergiant $\varepsilon$Aur suggests 152 d as its main pulsation period, while
the STELLA radial velocities reveal a clear 68 d period. An ingress of an
eclipse of the $\zeta$Aur binary system was covered with BRITE and a precise
timing for its eclipse onset derived. $\eta$Aur is identified as a slowly
pulsating B (SPB) star with a main period of 1.29 d and is among the brightest
SPB stars discovered so far. The rotation period of the magnetic Ap star
$\theta$Aur is detected from photometry and spectroscopy with a period of
3.6189 d and 3.6177 d, respectively, likely the same within the errors.
Photometric rotation periods are also confirmed for the magnetic Ap star
$\tau$Aur of 2.463 d and for the solar-type star $\kappa^1$Cet of 9.065 d, and
also for the B7 HgMn giant $\beta$Tau of 2.74 d. Revised orbital solutions are
derived for the eclipsing SB2 binary $\beta$Aur, for the 27 year eclipsing SB1
$\varepsilon$Aur, and for the RS CVn binary HR 1099. The two stars $\nu$ Aur
and $\iota$Aur are found to be long-term, low-amplitude RV and brightness
variables, but provisional orbital elements based on a period of 20 yr and an
eccentricity of 0.7 could only be extracted for $\nu$Aur. The variations of
$\iota$Aur are due to oscillations with a period of $\approx$4 yr.
