Bedrich Smetana
Romantic · 1824–1884
Bedrich Smetana set out to give the Czech people a music of their own. Born in Bohemia in 1824, he worked as a pianist and teacher, spent several years conducting in Sweden, then returned to Prague, where he led the new Czech opera theater and wrote operas in his native language at a time when German dominated the city's musical life.
In 1874 he went completely deaf within a matter of months. Instead of stopping, he wrote Má vlast, a cycle of six orchestral pieces portraying his homeland; the second, Vltava, follows the river of that name from its springs down through the Czech countryside to Prague. His comic opera The Bartered Bride, a village story of young love and a scheming marriage broker, is still a national favorite.
Start with Vltava from Má vlast, then try the overture to The Bartered Bride for his lighter side.
46 works in the catalog, across 4 genres. Log what you listen to with Opus, the classical music journal for iPhone.
Chamber
- String Quartet no. 1 in E minor,, JB 1:105, "From My Life"
- Piano Trio in G minor, op. 15
- String Quartet no. 2 in D minor, JB 1:124
- Z domoviny, 2 pieces for violin and piano, JB 1:118
Keyboard
- 4 Czech Dances, Book 1, JB 1:107
- 10 Czech Dances, Book 2, JB 1:114
- Sonata movement for 2 pianos, 8 hands in E minor, JB 1:47
- 3 Hochzeitsszenen, JB 1:44
- 3 Polkas de salon, op. 7
- 3 Polkas poetiques, op. 8
- 6 Preludes, JB 1:30
- Bagatelles et impromptus, for piano
- By the Seashore, concert etude in G sharp minor, op. 17
- Concert Etude in C major, JB 1:73
- Fantasy on Czech National Songs in B major, JB 1:83
- Louisen-Polka in E flat major, JB 1:1
- Rêves, 6 characteristic pieces, JB 1:103
- Souvenir de Bohême en forme de polkas, Book 1, JB 1:76, op. 12
- Souvenir de Bohême en forme de polkas, Book 2, JB 1:77, op. 13
- The Curious One
Orchestral
- Hakon Jarl, symphonic poem, op. 16
- Má vlast, JB 1:112
- Richard III, symphonic poem, op. 11
- Bayadere Galop in C major, JB 1:11
- Beseda Polka
- Der Fischer, for harmonium, harp and strings, JB 1:97
- Doktor Faust, prelude for small orchestra, JB 1:85
- Fanfares for Richard III, for brass and timpani, JB 1:92
- Festival Overture in D, JB 1:39, "Revolutionary"
- Libusin soud, JB 1:98
- Minuet for Orchestra in B flat major, JB 1:10
- Nasim devám, polka in D major, JB 1:86
- Oldřich a Božena
- Pochod k slavnosti Shakespearove
- Prazský karneval, introduction and polonaise, JB 1:126
- Slavnostní predehra in C major, JB 1:95
- Symphony in E
- Venkovanka, polka in G major, JB 1:115
Stage
- The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100 Opera
- Branibori v Cecháach JB 1:87 Opera
- Certova stena JB 1:122 Opera
- Dalibor, JB 1:101 Opera
- Dve vdovy JB 1:108 Opera
- Hubicka, JB 1:104
- Libuse ; JB 1:102
- Tajemství JB 1:110 Opera
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