On March 2, we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Bedřich Smetana, Czech composer, founder of Czech national music and author of the symphonic poem "Má vlast" (My Country). Smetana not only created a musical identity of the Czech lands; his work, including the opera The Bartered Bride, resonated with audiences all over the world. Today we honor his genius and his unmistakable contribution to world culture.
Bedřich Smetana was born on March 2, 1824 and died on May 12, 1884. He was a prominent Czech composer, founder of the Czech national school of music and a key figure of Czech musical romanticism.
Smetana's contribution to the development of Czech culture is undeniable, and his legacy continues in the shared love of music. He has left behind musical treasures which appeal to multiple generations, and his legacy lives on in everyone who finds joy and inspiration in music.
Poster © Tomski & Polanski
Dr. Sandra Bergmannová, director of the Bedřich Smetana Museum in Prague – National Museum in Prague, says about him:
"Bedřich Smetana is rightfully considered one of the most significant figures of Czech musical culture of the nineteenth century. And yet, despite his enormous talent, he had to fight for his musical career. He was born into the family of a brewmaster in the town of Litomyšl who wasn’t too keen on his son’s musical ambitions. Following his studies, Smetana worked as a teacher and eventually opened his own music school in Prague. Later he spent five years in Sweden and following his return, he set out to professionalize Czech music. He established a number of societies and was involved in the efforts to build a Czech-language National Theater. His music, including his operas which were all in Czech, served not only to support national sentiments during the period of the national awakening, but also to develop aesthetic sensitivity of the population. When he was fifty years old, he lost his hearing, but he continued composing and, in fact, some of his most important works come from the final period of his life.
Smetana was a dedicated fighter for the autonomy of the Czech nation and its artistic independence. His name and his music have become ingrained in the national memory."
Pictures from the concert Josef Špaček & Friends (photo credit Bruce C. T. Bybee):
