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Antonin Dvorak (Portrait of Antonin Dvorak)

Antonín Dvorák

Antonín Dvorák , born on September 8, 1841 in a small town near Prague, is known to be one of the greatest Czech composers, noted for his attractive melodic compositions and the brilliance of his orchestration. At the age of 16 he studied at the Prague Organ School. There, he was introduced to the works of past great masters as well as to composers such as Robert Schumann and Richard Wagner. In 1861 Dvorák joined the National Theatre in Prague as a violist. During this time he wrote many compositions, but not until 1873 with a performance of his grand patriotic work Hymnus for chorus and orchestra, did he achieve recognition. Antonín Dvorák , born on September 8, 1841 in a small town near Prague, is known to be one of the greatest Czech composers, noted for his attractive melodic compositions and the brilliance of his orchestration. At the age of 16 he studied at the Prague Organ School. There, he was introduced to the works of past great masters as well as to composers such as Robert Schumann and Richard Wagner.

In 1861 Dvorák joined the National Theatre in Prague as a violist. During this time he wrote many compositions, but not until 1873 with a performance of his grand patriotic work Hymnus for chorus and orchestra, did he achieve recognition. Composer Johannes Brahms later prevailed upon his publisher to print some of Dvorák ’s works.

Always composing an apparently effortless output of music, including Slovonic Dances in 1878, Dvorák soon became a professor of composition at the Prague Conservatory. In 1884 following a series of trips to London to conduct his own music, he earned a commission to compose The Spectre’s Bride. In 1891 he received an honorary doctorate degree from Cambridge University, the same year he composed the popular Carnival overture.

Following successful tours to Russia and Germany, Dvorák accepted an invitation in 1892 to become director of the National Conservatory of Music in New York City. In 1893 while in the United States, he wrote what is probably his most famous work, the Symphony in E Minor from The New World. In 1895 Dvorák returned to Prague where he completed Rusalka in 1900, the ninth of his 10 operas. In it, he tells the familiar story of a water nymph who falls in love with a human prince. The following year Dvorák became the director of the Prague Conservatory. He devoted his last years to working on an opera, Armida.

Despite the international recognition he had achieved, Dvorák lived in relative poverty as a result of unfavorable contracts with his music publishers. He died on May 1, 1904. A national day of mourning was declared, and Dvorák was honored with a burial in Vysehrad Cemetery, where many prominent Czechs are also buried.

Video and Audio

UTM: Dvorak Regis Vogt

Understanding the Music: Dvorák's Larghetto from Serenade in E major for String Orchestra, Op. 22

Understanding the Music: Dvorák's Larghetto from Serenade in E major for String Orchestra, Op. 22

National Symphony Orchestra Assistant Conductor Ankush Kumar Bahl discusses Dvorák's Larghetto from Serenade in E major for String Orchestra, Op. 22.

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NSO Preview dvorak Beatrice Moss

Watch an excerpt of Dvorák's Serenade in E major for String Orchestra

Watch an excerpt of Dvorák's Serenade in E major for String Orchestra

From the National Symphony Orchestra: 2011-2012 Season Preview Concert with Assistant Conductor Ankush Kumar Bahl.

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The NSO rehearses Dvorák’s Symphony No. 7 Kennedy Center

Inside the NSO: A rehearsal of Dvorák’s Symphony No. 7

Inside the NSO: A rehearsal of Dvorák’s Symphony No. 7

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Additional Resources

Review - "NSO and Pianist Ohlsson, Throwing Bolts of Lightning" The Washington Post - Washington, DC (Mar 17, 2006)

Compositions

- Carnival Overture, Op. 92

- Moravian Duets, orchestrated by Iván Fischer

- Scherzo capriccioso, Op. 66

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Upcoming Events

National Symphony Orchestra: Jakub Hrusa, conductor / Augustin Hadelich, violin & Nadezhda Serdyuk, mezzo-soprano 6/6/2013 - 6/8/2013
Augustin Hadelich, whom the Washington Post praises for being "in touch with the sunny side of a violin" makes his much-anticipated NSO debut performing Dvorák's Violin Concerto conducted by another young star, Jakub Hrusa.
National Symphony Orchestra: Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Dvorák's "From the New World" Symphony, plus Mozart and an NSO debut 1/23/2014 - 1/25/2014
Eschenbach leads Dvorák's Symphony No. 9, Mozart's "Haffner" Symphony, and a recent work by Avner Dorman featuring the NSO debut of young Austrian percussionist Martin Grubinger, "a master of the high-speed chase" (New York Times).
National Symphony Orchestra: Christoph Eschenbach, conductor / Beyond the Score: Dvorák's Symphony No. 9 - Whose World? 1/24/2014 8:00 PM
For aficionados and newcomers alike, this series uses actors, narration, excerpts, and multimedia to share captivating stories behind a score, followed by a full performance of the work. This event explores Dvorák's towering "New World" Symphony.
National Symphony Orchestra: Cristian Macelaru, conductor / Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin, plays Dvorák (Fri./Sat.) and a D.C. premiere (Thu.) 2/13/2014 - 2/15/2014
"Brilliant violinist" (The New York Times) Anne-Sophie Mutter joins two programs led by conductor Cristian Macelaru in his NSO debut: one features Dvorák's Violin Concerto; the other offers a D.C. premiere written specifically for Mutter.
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Fortas Chamber Music Concert: Marc-André Hamelin with the Pacifica Quartet 5/20/2014 7:30 PM
Fresh and daring, the Pacifica Quartet makes its Fortas debut with Leo Ornstein's rhythmically engaging Piano Quintet with acclaimed pianist Marc-André Hamelin on a program that also features the infectiously joyous Dvorák Piano Quintet.
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