Antonin Dvorák

Anton Dvorak (1841 - 1904) is the most popular of Czech composers. His unfailing sense of melody, glowing orchestration and the appreciation of the folk music both of his native Bohemia and the United States has secured his work a lasting place in the core repertoire.

Dvorak had been a teacher, organist and member of the Bohemian Provisional Theatre Orchestra, before his compositions came to the attention of Brahms who recommended that his publisher Simrock should take an interest in the Czech composer. The result was the first set of the vibrant Slavonic Dances, published in 1878 and which clearly bore the influence of Brahms. Following their success, Dvorak's rise to fame was rapid and his reputation as a composer of merit quickly spread throughout Europe. In the United Kingdom, that had already wholeheartedly embraced the music of Brahms, Dvorak was warmly received and the composer made numerous visits there to conduct his music of which the large scale Stabat Mater (1880) was a particular favourite with British audiences. He composed his Seventh Symphony, arguably the finest of his nine symphonies, for Britain and in 1891 he received a honourary degree from the University of Cambridge.

Working as musical director of the prestigious National Conservatory of Music in New York from 1892 to 1895 was probably the best career move that Dvorak ever made, even though he suffered from terrible homesickness during his time there. His stay in America gave him the inspiration to compose three of his greatest pieces of music: the American Quartet (No. 12) , the Cello Concerto and the New World Symphony (No. 9) which features the unforgettable Largo that was subsequently turned into the spiritual, Goin' Home. Returning to Bohemia, Dvorak only had a few brief years left to enjoy his homeland before dying in 1904 from heart failure. In 1897 his daughter, Ottilie, had married the composer Josef Suk who wrote the Asrael Symphony in memory of both Dvorak and of Ottilie herself who died in 1905.

Influenced by: Beethoven, Brahms, Smetana
Influenced: Foerster, Ives, Janacek, Suk

Key Works: Symphonies Nos. 7, 8 & 9 'From the New World', Cello Concerto, Violin Concerto, Cypresses, Piano Quartets Nos. 1 & 2, String quartet No. 12, Piano Trio No. 4 'Dumky', Requiem, Stabat Mater, Rusalka (inc. 'Song to the Moon')

Key Artists: Karl Ancerl, Reneé Fleming, Istvan Kertesz, Rafael Kubelik, Charles Mackerras, George Szell, Prague Quartet, Vlach Quartet