Antonin Dvořák in Prague
The series about historical places of opera art & culture. Get to know exciting excursion and travel ideas for opera lovers. This time: Antonin Dvořák in Prague.
All Destinations on google maps with links to detailed Blogposts:
Antonin Dvořák in Prag
Born in 1841 in rural Bohemia, Prague became the center of his life from the beginning of his music studies in 1857. For 20 years he lived in the Czech capital as a mouse-poor student and orchestral musician. Alongside this, he composed smaller works, but it was not until he received a scholarship in 1874 that he was able to devote sufficient time to larger works.
In 1877 the breakthrough came with the honorable mentions first by the famous critic Hanslick and then mainly by the encouragement of Johannes Brahms. However, it was also during this period that the tragedies of the two child deaths occurred, which shook him while he was working on the Stabat Mater.
In the 80’s concert tours to England helped him to prosperity and in the beginning of the 90’s the 2-year stay in the USA took place with the acclaimed premiere of his 9th symphony in New York, which helped him to fame. Dvořák died in Prague in 1904.
Destination Dvořák Museum
This small museum, just outside the center of Prague, is housed in a beautiful villa and brings the life and work of the composer closer.
Dvorak Museum:
Destination national theater (narodni-divadlo)
The construction of the Czech National Theater was a national act, financed by donations from all over the country. The laying of the foundation stone was attended by 100,000 people, but it took an agonizing 13 years before it was opened in 1883, shortly before completion a fire raged. It is the most important musical theater in Czechoslovakia.
National theater Prague:
The premiere of the opera “Rusalka” (next to the “Bartered Bride” the most famous Czech opera) was perhaps the most glamorous moment of this house, which saw the light of day in this theater in 1901 to great acclaim. Listen to the most famous piece from this opera, the Moon Aria sung by Anna Netrebko:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwuNqcKUxto
The premiere of his 8th Symphony had taken place in this theater 11 years earlier.
Destination Dvořák monument and Rudolfinum
The bronze statue of Dvořák stands imposingly in front of the beautiful Rudolfinum Concert House. In this concert hall Dvořák conducted the first performance of the newly founded Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, which originally consisted of the musicians of the National Theater. The building served as a parliament building for a few years and also houses an art museum. The large hall is named after Dvořák. The Rudolfinum features high quality classical music.
Dvořák monument in front of Rudolfinum:
Dvořák hall:
Destination Cemetery Vyšehrad
Dvorak was buried in this cemetery on the grounds of the castle, thousands of people accompanied the body on the way to the cemetery.
Dvořák’s grave monument:
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