What is David Popper?
'''David Popper''' (born [[Prague]], 18 June 1843; died [[Baden (Austria)|Baden]], [[Austria]], 7 August 1913) was a [[Bohemia]]n [[cello|cellist]] and [[composer]]. He composed many works for the cello which today are performed by cellists all over the world. [[Image:Popper david v2.jpg|right|thumb|David Popper]] ==Life== Popper was born in the old [[Jew]]ish part of [[Prague]]. His father was a [[Hazzan|Cantor]] in two [[synagogue]]s. When he was three years old he was imitating his father’s singing. He learned the [[violin]] when he was six and, at the age of twelve, he got a place to study music at the [[Prague Conservatory]], but he had to learn the cello. His cello teacher was [[Julius Goltermann]]. His first job was as cellist to the Prince of Hohenzollern who soon gave him the title “Kammervirtuoso”. He was only 21 when he played a difficult [[concerto]] by [[Robert Volkmann]]. The [[Conducting|conductor]], [[Hans von Bülow]], was very impressed and so were the [[music critic|critics]]. He gave many concerts in [[Vienna]] and became very famous. He started to travel around [[Europe]], visiting [[England]] and [[Russia]]. He had a lot of energy and was able to compose a lot while travelling. He composed many short cello pieces. His ''Elfentanz'' (Dance of the Elves) and ''Spinning Song'' were especially popular with the audiences. ==Budapest== In 1886 Popper married for the second time. In the same year he took up a job at the Royal Hungarian Academy of Music in [[Budapest]]. He was a famous teacher and charged a high fee for lessons. He formed a [[string quartet]] with three other musicians including the violinist [[Jenő Hubay]]. Hubay and Popper often played piano trios with [[Johannes Brahms]]. Popper made a long visit to [[England]] and [[Scotland]] where he was described as the world’s greatest cellist by many people including [[George Bernard Shaw]]. When he returned to Prague he played with [[Béla Bartók]] who was only 19 years old and not yet famous. He was also impress