DESCRIPTION:
Emile Waldteufel (1837-1915) was a French pianist and composer of popular music as well as waltzes and polkas. He was born in Strasbourg, France, into a family of musicians. His father had a well-reputed orchestra, his mother was a pianist and his brother was a well-liked musician. When his brother entered the Conservatoire de Paris as a violin student, the entire family moved there. It was in Paris that Emile Waldteufel would spend the rest of his life.

He studied the piano at the Conservatoire de Paris from 1853 to 1857. Among his co-disciples was Jules Massenet, the famous opera composer. During this time, his father's orchestra became one of the most famous in Paris, and he was frequently invited to play at important events.

At the age of 28, he became the court pianist of Empress Eugénie. After the Franco-Prussian War, the orchestra played at the President's balls in the Elysée Palace. At this time only a few members of the French high society knew of Emile Waldteufel, and he was already 40 years old before he became better known.

In October of 1874, Waldteufel played at an event that was attended by the Prince of Wales and future King of England, Edward VII. The Prince was enthralled by Waldteufel's 'Manolo' waltz, and was prepared to make Waldteufel's music known in England. A long-term contract with the London-based editor Hopwood & Crew followed. Part of the company belonged to Charles Coote, director of the Coote & Tinney's Band, the first dance orchestra in London. Through these means, Waldteufel's music was played at Buckingham Palace in front of Queen Victoria. Waldteufel dominated the music scene in London and became world-famous. During this period he composed his best known works, many of which are still heard today around the world. He became well-known for the waltz 'Les Pâtineurs' or 'The Skaters', created in 1882.

Emile Waldteufel gave concerts in several European cities, such as London in 1885, Berlin in 1889 and the Paris Opéra Balls in 1890 and 1891. He continued his career as conductor and writing dance music for the Presidential Balls until 1899 when he retired. He died in 1915, in Paris at the age of 77 years.

Waldteufel's music can be distinguished from Johann Strauss waltzes and polkas in that he used subtle harmonies and gentle phrases unlike Strauss' more robust approach. It was considered that Waldteufel's music was not revolutionary, which explained why his waltzes fell out of favor as the age of Impressionism came to Paris.

The Skaters' Waltz
Performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra
Herbert von Karajan, Conductor