His grandfather and father were both musicians; his mother Flora Neubauer, originally from Bavaria, had been a student of Hummel and had met Haydn; she was also a keen singer and dancer.The young Émile was obliged to halt his studies and work at the Scholtus piano factory owing to the financial situation of the family, but soon took a room at rue de Bellefond in order to concentrate on composing.[2] During his time at the Conservatory, Louis Waldteufel's orchestra became famous in Paris, and Émile was frequently invited to play at important events.[5] His appointment by Napoléon III as the musical director of the balls led him to participation in the events in Biarritz and Compiègne; at the latter he met many other musicians and artists and also accompanied the emperor playing the violin.Waldteufel gave concerts in several European cities including London in 1885, Berlin in 1889 (where he enjoyed a friendly rivalry with Johann Strauss), and the Paris Opéra Balls in 1890 and 1891.The typical Waldteufel orchestra consisted of strings and a doubled woodwind section, two cornets, four horns, three trombones, and ophicleide or euphonium, along with percussion.