Popper was born in Prague, where he studied at the conservatory. He received cello lessons from Julius Goltermann in Frankfurt am Main. He made his first tour in 1863, where his playing was appreciated by Hans von Bülow. This conductor brought about Popper's appointment as chamber music virtuoso at the court of Frederick William Constantine of Hohenzollern-Hechingen at Löwenberg (1868), but he lost this position after only a year following the prince's death. He made his Vienna debut in 1872, after which he became principal cellist of the Vienna State Opera. In 1872 Popper married Sophie Menter, a pupil of Franz Liszt (divorced in 1886). After several years, Popper left his position at the State Opera and, together with his wife, began giving concerts in various European countries. From 1896 onwards, he himself taught cello as a professor at the Budapest Conservatory. David Popper's six-movement suite "In the Forest" is best known to cellists from compilations for cello and piano, which include the "Gnomentanz" and the "Andacht." However, these beloved movements are only two of the six character pieces composed in 1882.