Isn’t it fitting that the Smetana Museum is nestled near the Vltava River? The museum is dedicated to Bedřich Smetana. He composed “The Moldau”. It is based on the river flowing through the Czech lands.
Smetana was the “Father of Czech Music”. He composed music based on Czech themes, stories, heroes, and dreams. The Smetana Museum is in the Water Works building. It stands on the river next to Charles Bridge.
Inside the Smetana Museum, you will find exhibits about Smetana’s life. You can see copies of letters and photographs. There are also newspaper cuttings. The museum displays his possessions, including his earbone. Smetana suffered from deafness.
The Smetana Museum has folders on music stands. They contain material about Smetana’s famous works. Visitors can listen to extracts by zapping the stands with an electronic baton. The upper floors house archive material. This provides a center for research.
Smetana was a leading Czech composer. He lived when Czech nationalism was expressed through the arts. German had long dominated. The Czech people sought their national identity. They could perform plays and operas in Czech for the first time.
The National Theatre opened in November 1883. It performed Smetana’s opera, Libuše. The opera tells the story of Prague’s foundation. Smetana’s “Má vlast” describes his homeland. It shows its countryside and legends. “Vltava” is the second tone poem. It is very popular. Its main tune is broadcast at Prague’s main railway station.
You can also visit Smetana Hall. It is in Prague’s Municipal House. This building showcases Prague’s Art Nouveau style. Smetana is buried in Vysehrad Castle cemetery. His grave is near Antonin Dvořák.
The Smetana Museum was established in 1936. It is located at Novotného lávka 1, Praha 1. The building was designed by Antonín Wiehl. It used to be owned by the Prague Water Company. The building is in the Renaissance style. The museum is open daily except Tuesdays.
Smetana was born in Litomyšl, Bohemia. This is now the Czech Republic. He is one of the first great 19th-century nationalist composers. Smetana gave Bohemia a central role in his works. These include “Má Vlast” and the opera “The Bartered Bride”.
Smetana’s career involved struggles for Bohemia’s right to exist. He was born into a musician’s family. By age five, he played violin in a Haydn quartet. At six, he debuted as a pianist. He composed folk and dance tunes at eight.
At 19, Smetana fell in love with Katerina Kolar. She persuaded Josef Proksch to accept Smetana as a student. This brought Smetana to Prague. Connections led to him becoming a music master for Count Leopold Thun’s family.
In 1848, Smetana started his music school in Prague. Franz Liszt encouraged him. He offered to find a publisher for Smetana’s music. In 1849, Smetana and Katerina married. They struggled financially. In 1855, Katerina showed signs of consumption. Smetana became conductor in Sweden.
Katerina died in 1857. Smetana married Bettina Ferdinandova a year later. In 1861, they returned to Prague. Smetana became a leading figure in the Provisional Theatre. This theater was dedicated to Czech language plays and operas.
Smetana’s “The Bartered Bride” became a success. It remains the most popular Czech opera. Smetana tried to recreate this success. He faced public expectation and took a progressive musical stance.
In 1874, Smetana began “Má Vlast”. He realized he was going deaf. He withdrew from public life. His enemies tried to undermine him. Smetana died in a mental hospital in Prague. Yet his music holds a unique place in Czech life. His optimism has created a lasting impact. Smetana’s legacy is a treasure of Czech national music.