Hippolite Vogel

Hippolite is a mysterious figure. Most of the facts about his life are unknown, uncertain, or exist as untested rumors. Even the name Vogel raises serious doubts. It is almost certain that one of the researchers of his legacy, who watched the film Jan Troell in the seventies This is your life Här har du ditt liv, gave Hippolite this name. The word Vogel alludes to the scene in which the young protagonist, while riding the train, watches the sunset, when suddenly in the black and white film the whole screen is flooded with red and green sun flashes against it. The scene lasts for a while, it is almost an illusion, those who have seen this movie often do not remember it. The name Vogler appears frequently in the films of another famous Swede, Ingmar Bergman. Does Vogel have anything to do with Vogler? I do not know. But the convergence of the film context and Hippolite itself is certainly disturbing. Confusion, alienation, emptiness never leads to panic and this overwhelming loneliness in the background of cities, trains and hotels constantly accompany Hippolite in his life. Our hero was born in Ghent before 1891. Some sources say that he was born in Antwerp. Apparently, the photographs found back in the early 1980s are to prove it. The first deep yellow sepia photo shows Hippolite inside the hall of Antwerpen-Centraal station posing against the background of stairs leading to the platforms. The other two are a bit better, they are black and white, on both of them Hippolite sits on a bench in the square opposite the station on a sunny afternoon, reading a newspaper. In the first, Hippolite is alone, but in the second, which may be significant, a young woman walks past him confidently. She is dressed in the fashion of the twenties in a round, little extravagant hat resembling a helmet. In the photo we can see that she is facing Hippolite and she seems to be smiling, but looking at the photo we are not sure. She is tall for a woman, with her blonde hair cut short, which seems to be a longtime friend of Hippolite Sophie Blancheur. With whom he never moved, but regularly visited in Provence in her house on the outskirts of Le Lavendur near Toulon. We are almost sure that Hippolite Vogler was born in Ghent near St. Nicholas on the other side of the bridge in the old tenement house where Mrs. Vogler's parents lived. Hippolite Hugo's father lived in Brussels, serving as counselor at the court of Leopold II. As a youth, Hippolite read a lot and listened to music. His mum Claira was reportedly an accomplished pianist, although she never performed in large concert halls. At home, Hippolite mostly listened to the music of Chopin and Debussy. After that, his mother also played Ravel and Erik Satie. However, in later years, Gustav Mahler's music completely captured his emotions and imagination. At the beginning of 1905 he listens to his Symphony No. 6, conducted by the composer himself at the Vienna Philharmonic. After the concert, the gentlemen talked. Then, until the old composer's death, they met many times. Hippolite is particularly fond of Symphony No. 4. For a time, Hippolite traveled to the cities where it was played. At the beginning, when the singer was finishing her part, Hippolite wiped a tear from his cheek, and after the concert he handed her one white rose. It was argued that this might have something to do with Gustav Mahler's young wife. Rumor has it that Hippolite had a short-lived affair with Alma Mahler. It seems totally unbelievable. Hippolite was a shy young man, and above all, he would not do anything that would destroy his friendship with the composer. Throughout her adult life, Hippolite travels by train throughout Europe. Stays in small hotels in the centers of the visited cities. He feels good everywhere, but paradoxically he is accompanied by an undefined anxiety all the time. We can meet him in Geneva, Zurich, Paris, Bordeaux, Milan or Siena. In his travels, he even reaches Łódź or Vilnius. The first half of the twentieth century is sometimes disturbing the world. Two world wars are sweeping across Europe. In Russia, the old order is swept away by the communist revolution. The world is hit by financial crises. He lives outside of them. Many people at that time met Hippolite, and so few would admit having met him personally.