Rudolf Karel (9 November 1880 – 6 March 1945) was a distinguished Czech composer.

He studied law at Charles University and then composition from 1899 to 1904 with Antonín Dvořák and organ with Josef Klička.

[1] SS-Oberscharführer Stefan Rojko sent all ill prisoners outside in freezing cold to disinfect the cell.

He composed five-act fairy-tale opera Three Hairs of the Wise Old Man, writing on toilet paper using pencil or medicinal charcoal.

The 240 sheets containing a detailed sketch of the opera was secretly passed to a friendly warden.