La Berceuse : A Messieurs les Membres Du Cercle Agricole de Paris

Historical Notes

Émile Waldteufel (1837-1915) was a French pianist, conductor and composer of dance music. He was born in Strasbourg to a Jewish Alsatian family of musicians. When his father Léon won a place to study violin performance at the Conservatoire de Paris, the family followed him there. It was in Paris that Waldteufel spent the rest of his life. Waldteufel studied the piano at the Conservatoire de Paris from 1853 to 1857. During his time at the conservatory, Louis Waldteufel's orchestra became one of the most famous in Paris, and Émile was frequently invited to play at important events. At the age of 27, Émile became the court pianist of the Empress Eugénie. He also led the orchestra at state balls. After the Franco-Prussian War had dissolved the Second French Empire, the orchestra played at Presidential balls at the Élysée. In October 1874, Waldteufel played at an event that was attended by the then Prince of Wales, future King Edward VII of the United Kingdom. The Prince was enthralled by Waldteufel's "Manolo" waltz, and was prepared to make Waldteufel's music known in Britain. 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. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89mile_Waldteufel