Bedřich Smetana (1824 – 1884)

Donald Macleod explores how Smetana created a musical Czech identity The title of Smetana’s most popular work, ‘Ma Vlast’, gives us a clue to what drove him through much of his career. It translates as ‘My Homeland’ and the music is Smetana’s ardent tribute to the Czech sprit of his beloved Bohemia. The composer was deeply involved with his people’s struggle for cultural and political independence from the Hapsburg empire. He pledged his art to those aims and he even took to the streets to fight on the barricades, on one occasion. Smetana’s life was also beset by great misfortunes. When times were hardest, he always turned to music, even after illness made composing an almost impossible exertion. He created some of his most extraordinary works under the most painful circumstances. This week Donald Macleod follows Smetana as he grows from naïve revolutionary into one of the foundational figures in Czech music. Music Featured: The Bartered Bride: Overture Triumphal symphony, II. Largo maestoso Polka: Memory of Plzeň Wedding Scenes (orch. F. Hertl) Piano Trio in G minor Vision at the Ball Memories of Bohemia, Op 13 Håkon Jarl Song of the Czechs Overture to Doktor Faust The Brandenburgers in Bohemia The Bartered Bride: Act III finale The Two Widows: Act 2: Scene 3 Má Vlast: 2. Vltava & 4. Z českých luhů a hájů. On the Sea Shore Libuše: Overture String Quartet No.1 in Em ‘From My Life’ Czech Dances, Book 2: No.7 ‘The Lancer’ String Quartet No.2 in DPresented by Donald Macleod Produced by Chris Taylor, for BBC Audio Cardiff For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Max Richter (b. 1966) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001ghdw And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z