The works of Antonin Dvořák are characterized by melodic richness and severity of form. In his music, the classics are intertwined with folk Bohemian and Moravian motives. Until now, Antonín Dvořák is spoken of as the most significant Czech composer. But his rise to fame was not easy …
Music training and marriage to Anna
Antonín Dvořák was born in 1841. Fate was destined for him to be born in a small village located not far from the medieval Czech castle of Nelagozeves. At the age of six, Antonin was sent to a rural music school. The boy's first mentor was an ordinary church organist.
And from 1854 to 1857 he mastered the piano and organ in a place called Zlonits. When Dvorak was sixteen, he wished to continue his education. And he begged his father to take him on a cart to Prague. There Dvorak entered the Organ School, which trained professional musicians. After studying there, as it should be, for a whole year, he successfully passed the final exams.
In 1859, Dvořák managed to get a job in the ensemble of conductor Karel Komzak, and from 1862 he was in the orchestra of the Provisional Theater, where he participated in the musical accompaniment of operas by another worthy composer - Bedřich Smetana. In 1871 Antonin left this orchestra to devote more time to the creation of original compositions.
In the early seventies, the modest Dvorak fell in love with one of his students - Josephine Chermyakova. He dedicated a whole vocal collection to her - "Cypresses". But this did not help: she chose another man and left Prague. A little later, Antonin proposed to Josephine's sister Anna. The girl agreed, and in 1873 the lovers got married. Antonin and Anna created a very strong family, lived together for 31 years and became the parents of nine children.
Worldwide success and invitation to the USA
By the mid-seventies, Dvorak had already created many works in popular genres - symphonies, operas, chamber instrumental compositions. In 1877, Dvorak's works were appreciated by another brilliant composer - Brahms (later friendly relations were established between them).
Brahms gave a powerful impetus to Dvorak's career. He turned to the reputable music publisher Fritz Zimrok, who in 1878 published Dvořák's "Slavic Dances". After the release, this collection became instantly popular.
In 1880, they learned about Dvořek outside the borders of their native country. For the next fifteen years, Antonin toured extensively as a conductor in different countries of the world. So, for example, in 1883 Dvorak went to the UK to perform and stayed there for a long time. While in foggy Albion, he wrote Symphony No. 7, which he dedicated to London. It was presented to listeners in 1885.
It is known that Dvorak was in active correspondence with Tchaikovsky, and at the insistence of the Russian composer visited Moscow and St. Petersburg in 1890 to play concerts in these cities.
And in 1892 he was invited to the States to be the head of the conservatory. Dvorak accepted this invitation. In the States, in 1893, he composed one of his most beautiful works - the symphony (ninth in a row) "From the New World". In addition, in 1893, he visited the Czech diaspora, which was then living in Iowa. In the society of his fellow countrymen, he composed, as biographers indicate, two string quartets.
Return to the Czech Republic and death
In 1895, one might say, at the peak of his fame, Dvorak made a decision (due, in particular, to strong nostalgia) to return to his homeland. Having settled in Prague, Dvořák continued to create, with an emphasis on composing operas and chamber music. And in 1901 he was appointed to lead the Prague Conservatory. Of course, compatriots understood how much Dvorak contributed to Czech culture.
Antonín Dvořák died in May 1904, his death came as a surprise to literally everyone. He was buried at the Vysehrad cemetery.
