Kéler, Béla (own name Adalbert Paul Keler)

Violinist, composer

born: 13.02.1820 in Bartfeld (Hungarian Bàrfta, today Bardejov, Eastern Slovakia)

died: 20.11.1882 in Wiesbaden

Kéler came from a distinguished family of Protestant faith in the Slovakian-German settlement area. At his father's request, he initially began studying law.

During his time at the university in Eperjes (now Prešov), he founded an orchestra and distinguished himself with his own compositions. After working briefly as a farmer, he returned to Eperjes and became a violinist in the local theater orchestra. After a year, he made the leap to Vienna, where he joined the Theater an der Wien as a violinist in 1845. He also studied composition, including with Simon Sechter (1788-1867), who had also taught Franz Schubert and Anton Bruckner. After a short stay in Berlin, he was appointed conductor of the famous Lanner orchestra. Numerous waltzes, marches, polkas and military music were written by him.

In 1863, he was offered the post of music director of the Duchy of Nassau. As Wiesbaden did not yet have its own spa orchestra at this time, the regimental orchestra also provided the spa concerts and ball music. The Wiesbaden audience is said to have been extremely enthusiastic about the new conductor, who brought Viennese and Hungarian flair to the city. After the regimental orchestra was disbanded, Kéler was entrusted with the entire spa music, thus keeping him in Wiesbaden. With his own orchestra, he also undertook successful concert tours to Paris, Amsterdam, London, Denmark and Switzerland.

In 1873, he terminated his contract with the Wiesbadener Badeaktiengesellschaft; he retained his residence in Wiesbaden. Kéler was buried in the North Cemetery. He had written his own funeral march for his burial.

His popular compositions such as the "Hungarian Comedy Overture" or the waltz "Am schönen Rhein gedenk ich dein" were among the highlights of all entertainment bands for decades. Titles such as "La Belle de Wiesbaden", "Souvenir de Wiesbaden" or "Die Sprudler" document his attachment to Wiesbaden.