Franz Doppler

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Albert Franz Doppler (October 16, 1821, Lemberg, Poland – July 27, 1883, Baden bei Wien, Austria) was a composer best known for his music for flute. He also wrote operas (one of them in German) and his ballet music was popular during his lifetime. He transcribed some of Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsodies for flute.

From 1828 to 1931, Doppler received flute lessons from his father, who was an Oboist. At the age of 18 he was the first flautist at the opera in Budapest, going on to be the first flautist and stand-in conductor, and eventually chief conductor, of the Vienna Opera Ballet of the Court, as well as acquiring a position of Professor of Flute at the Vienna Conservatoire from 1864-67.

Doppler composed chiefly for the flute, as well as opera (a style that is prominent even in his showpieces for flute), composing many pieces including concertos, showpieces, and many flute duets, to be played by him and his brother Carl (who played the flute on the left side of his body), and as a duo they caused quite a sensation throughout Europe.