Great
Classical Music
Composers

Antonin DVORAK

8 September 1841 - 1 May 1904 (age 62)

Portrait by Paul Helm
click on image for more info

Antonin Dvorak, the best known Czech composer, is best known for his "From the New World Symphony" which was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic during his 3 year stay in America. Family

Works

Quotes

Links

Family

Born: 8 September 1841, near Prague (then Austrian, now Czech Republic)
Father: Frantisek Dvorak, butcher, innkeeper and zither player
Mother: Anna Zdenkova
Siblings: eldest of 8 children
Wife: Anna Cermakova
Children: 9. Only Otilie survived childhood and she died in her 20s
Death: 1 May 1904, Prague, kidney disease and influenza
Grave: Vysehradsky Hrbitov , Prague, Czechoslovakia.

Works

- 9 Symphonies - best known: New World Symphony
- 5 Symphonic poems
- 1 Piano concerto
- 1 Violin concerto
- 1 Cello concerto
- 10 Operas
- Oratorial works - Requiem, Stabat Mater, Te Deum, Mass in Dmajor
- Lots of chamber music
- 16 Slavonic Dances
- 8 Humoresques
- various

Amazon store

Dvorak on Amazon

Dvorak, New World Symphony - 2nd Mvt Part 1

Dublin Philharmonic, Conductor Derek Gleeson

Cello Concerto : Rostropovich Part 1

The Great Rostropovich Playing the Dvorak Cello Concerto with Carlo Maria Giulini and the London Philharmonic Orchestra

Quotes

- "Mozart is sweet sunshine."

- "I have composed too much." (Dvorak to Sibelius)

- "You do write a bit hastily." (Brahms to Dvorak)

- "In the negro melodies of America I discover all that is needed for a great and noble school of music. They are pathetic, tender, passionate, melancholy, solemn, religious, bold, merry, gay or what you will. It is music that suits itself to any mood or any purpose. There is nothing in the whole age of composition that cannot be supplied with themes from this source." (wikiquote)

Antonin's Facebook

Click on the Facebook logo, become a fan and share your views and comments with others.

Dvorak on eBay

You will find lots of Dvorak related items on eBay, some new, some used, some common, some rare. Always good for a browse - you never know what you may find!