Criticism, Publications

Let us remember Charles Doppler, the flutist, who died 110 years ago
Quotation from Sunday Paper 12th copy, 47th volume published on 25th March 1900.

Charles Doppler, died on 11th day of this month at the age of 74, was a significant figure of Hungarian music. Although he lived only in first part of his life in Hungary, he reached important respect and appreciation for Hungarian stage music.
Charles Doppler born in 1826, was Ferenc Doppler’s (our famous composer’s) brother. Charles joined The Buda Theatre as a second flutist at the age of 11. One year later he had a solo concert with great success and he became primer flutist  in 1840. He started composing when he was very young and his first notable composition was a Hungarian-styled celebrational overture written for the 50th palatine festival of  Archduke Joseph. It had a big success. He composed music to several theatre plays and in 1843 his 2-act ballet was performed to public. The very talented young composer became second conductor at the age of 19, and after the foundation of the Opera in Arad he became the director there. He took part in the Hungarian War of Independence: he was the leader of the military band until the capitulation in Komárom. After this he worked as a second conductor at The Hungarian National Theatre for 12 years with Ferenc Erkel.  During this period he composed  memorable music for folk plays and composed number of  folk songs, which are still popular and well-known. He also did major compositions: his comic opera „The camp of Hungarian Grenadier” was performed in The National Theatre in 1853 and the following year came a romantic opera „The Son of Jungle”. When Queen Elizabeth had visited Budapest the first time in 1857 she was given a gala performance. The first act of the celebrational opera was composed by Ferenc Erkel, the second one by Ferenc Doppler and the third one by Charles Doppler.
After being a conductor for 12 years, he went for a concert tour with his brother who also was a great flutist. They started in main towns in Germany then they went to Belgium, England, Russia, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria etc. They made success everywhere, in Weimar they had Ferenc Liszt’s compliment and respect.. In 1854 Meyerbeer invited them to Berlin to take part at a royal concert organised by him.
Charles Doppler was invited to The Royal Opera in Vienna, where his brother had been working as a conductor of the ballet. From Vienna he went to work as a primer music director  to the Royal Theatre in Stuttgart and he stayed there until he was retired  because of his eyes.
He always did his conductor job with great enthusiasm and wholeheartedness and composed pleasant music for several theatre plays.
His wife was an artist, too. She was Luisa Kobler the beloved dancer of National Theatre. Her father worked as a ballet master of The National Theatre and Jókai wrote interesting articles about her family, called „Dancing Dolls of The Koblers”. They had a very happy marriage almost for 40 years and they died nearly together: Charles Doppler died on the day of his wife’s funeral. The audience of Stuttgart offered condolences at his grave, next to his faithful love.
Doppler’s walk of life can be described with qualification, precision and exactitude. He trained many excellent singers magnanimously to train great artists for the institute, he served. Because of these qualities he was very popular and respected among artists. All his four children became artists and they came through perfectly.