Bedřich Smetana Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Ludwig van beethoven Bettina´s Polka C major bedřich smetana Fanfares from the Opera Libuše Antonín dvořák The Bartered Bride - Furiant gustav mahler Muzeum B. Smetany My Country, A Cycle of Symphonic Poems: Vltava leoš janáček Obecní dům Dům u Jednorožce Čejkovský dům čp. 221 bohuslav martinů My Country, A Cycle of Symphonic Poems: From Bohemia's woods and fields Palác Lažanských My Country. A Cycle of Symphonic Poems: I. Vysehrad Národní divadlo The Bartered Bride. Comic opera in three acts. String Quartet No. 1 in E Minor "from My Life" Dům čp. 1385, Školská ulice Three Salon Polkas, Op 7 Pražský Hlahol Ústav pro choromyslné Bettina´s Polka C major Music Bedřich Smetana Artist Brno Philharmonic Orchestra/František Jílek Fanfares from the Opera Libuše Music Bedřich Smetana/libretto Josef Wenzig, Ervín Špindler Artist The Band of the Castle Guards and Police of the Czech Republic/Miroslav Hanzal My Country, A Cycle of Symphonic Poems: From Bohemia's woods and fields Music Bedřich Smetana Artist Czech Philharmonic/Karel Ančerl My Country, A Cycle of Symphonic Poems: Vltava Music Bedřich Smetana Artist Czech Philharmonic/Karel Ančerl My Country. A Cycle of Symphonic Poems: Vysehrad Music Bedřich Smetana Artist Czech Philharmonic/Karel Ančerl String Quartet No. 1 in E Minor "from My Life" Music Bedřich Smetana Artist Smetana Quartet The Bartered Bride - Furiant Music Bedřich Smetana/libretto Karel Sabina Artist The Band of the Castle Guards and Police of the Czech Republic/Václav Blahunek The Bartered Bride. Comic opera in three acts. Music Bedřich Smetana/libretto Karel Sabina Artist Karel Kalaš/Ladislav Mráz/Zdeněk Otava/Marie Veselá/Ivo Žídek/Oldřich Kovář/Karel Hruška/Václav Bednář/Štěpánka Štěpánová/Jarmila Pechová/Milada Musilová/Kluci/Czech house orchestra of the National Theatre Prague/Jaroslav Vogel/The Chorus of the National Theatre in Prague/Vladivoj Jankovský Three Salon Polkas, Op 7 Music Bedřich Smetana Artist Věra Řepková Slavín Bedřich Smetana Smetana is the second most famous Czech composer after Antonín Dvořák. He wrote his most important works after going deaf. As the composer of the world-renowned symphonic cycle Má vlast (My Fatherland) and the opera The Bartered Bride, he actively participated in the creation of the Czech national identity. 2 March 1824 in Litomyšl (Czech Republic) 12 May 1884 Prague (Czech Republic), buried at the Vyšehrad Cemetery in Prague Bedřich Smetana was born in Litomyšl into the family of a wealthy brewer. His first piano performance in public came at the tender age of six. During his studies in Havlíčkový Brod, he met Karel Havlíček. Smetana was so taken with Havlíček in particular that when Havlíček left for Prague to study philosophy, Smetana followed him. In Prague, he worked as a private music teacher in the family of Count Thun while studying composition and music theory under Josef Proksch. He was supported by Liszt (especially after they met in person in 1856), to whom he dedicated his Six Characteristic Pieces. In 1848 in Prague, he established his own music institute and as a member of the National Guard was heavily involved in the revolutionary storm. In 1849, he married Kateřina Kolářová. Four daughters were born from this marriage, but only Sophie survived to adulthood. For financial reasons, Smetana and his family moved to Göteburg, Sweden in September 1858, where he worked as a teacher, conductor and pianist. His wife, however, took seriously ill the following year and later died in Dresden. During this difficult period in his life, Smetana often visited the estate in Obříství Lamberk where his brother Charles lived. Here Smetana entered into his second marriage with Bettina, daughter of estate manager František Ferdinand. From this marriage were born two daughters. In 1861, the Prague Provisional Theatre was founded. Although Smetana found it difficult to promote himself, after the success of The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, he became the first conductor of the theatre in 1866, and continued in this position until his deafness made it impossible to continue. Smetana lost his hearing in 1774 during his stay in Jabkenice where he moved with his family. Although his disease progressively worsened, he composed number of his most important works in this period. The National Theatre was inaugurated June 11, 1881 with Smetena's opera Libuše. The composer was present at the event himself. After his health began to worsen and he was suffering the rage issues, Smetana was transferred to the Psychiatric Hospital in Kateřinská Street on 22 April 1884 where he died on May 12 the same year. Works: From his orchestral work, of mention is Triumphal Symphony, originally intended for the failed imperial coronation in the year 1871, Prague Carnival and Festive Overture in D major. He made his name in Prague with his successful opera The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, set to a libretto by K. Sabina. His best-known opera is probably The Bartered Bride, composed in 1865 during a stay in Obříství. Other operas: Dalibor, Libuše, Two Widows, The Kiss, The Secret, The Devil's Wall, Viola (incomplete). He originally intended include 13 symphonic poems in his Czech cycle My Fatherland, however, it consists of only six: Vyšehrad, Vltava, Šárka, From Bohemian Woods and Fields, Tábor and Blaník. Smetana's work is quite extensive and varied. You'll find minor works, polkas (Louise's Polka, 3 Salon Polkas) etudes, songs, and quartets in his oeuvre. Of these, the most important is the string quartet From My Life, which impressively sums up his life. Open Wednesday–Monday, 10.00–17.00 Bedřich Smetana Museum The museum, located on the right bank of the Vltava near the Charles Bridge, offers an interactive exhibition about the composer's life and work, including music samples. Hlahol The building has a plaque with a relief of Bedřich Smetana’s head and inscription: "Bedřich Smetana, choirmaster, 1863, in grateful memory of his membership in the Hlahol singing choir, MDCCCCXI". House No. 1385, Školská Street Between 1962 and 1963, Bedřich Smetana lived here and composed his opera The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, as well as part of his famous opera The Bartered Bride. House at the Unicorn/ at the White Horse This house has a bronze plaque inscribed with: "In this house, Bedřich Smetana opened his Music Institute in August 1848". Lažanský Palace A plaque of pink marble by sculptor Frantisek Kysela is installed on the balcony above the entrance, stating that Bedřich Smetana lived and worked here between the years1863 and1868. From 1865 until 1866, composer Zdeněk Fibich was a regular visitor as he was a piano student of Smetana’s. Municipal House - Smetana Hall Well-known concert hall in Art Nouveau style bears the name of beloved Czech composer Bedřich Smetana. It has been the venue of the Prague Spring Festival’s most important concerts since the festival’s first year, 1946. National Theatre One of the most important buildings in the country in terms of cultural, historical and architectural significance. It is the seat of the leading Czech drama, ballet and opera ensembles. On 11 June, 1881 the theatre opened with the premiere of Bedřich Smetana’s opera Libuše, with the composer himself in attendance. Psychiatric hospital Bedřich Smetana was transferred to the Psychiatric Hospital in Kateřinská Street on April 22, 1884 after his health began to deteriorate and he was suffering from attacks of rage. He died in this hospital on May 12 of the same year. Currently the building houses the Neurology Clinic of the 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, and the General University Hospital in Prague. Vyšehrad Cemetery and Slavín Vyšehrad cemetery is the most important national burial ground. It is the resting place of more than 600 personalities of culture and science. Among the musical luminaries buried here are Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák, Zdeněk Fibich, Emmy Destinn, Jan Kubelík and Rafael Kubelík. Čejkovský House No 221 In 1830, Josef Proksch (1794-1864) founded a prominent music school in this house. Proksch was the private tutor to composer Bedřich Smetana. K Rotundě K Rotundě Masarykovo nábřeží 16 Národní 1012/2 Staroměstské nám. 548/20 Školská 1385/36 náměstí Republiky 5 Národní 2 Liliová ulice 13 Kateřinská ulice