Antonín Dvořák
Antonín Dvořák Antonín Leopold Dvořák was born on September 8, 1841 in the village of Nelahozeves, Bohemia, then part of the Austrian Empire, now part of the Czech Republic. Dvořák was the son of František Dvořák, A butcher and inn keeper, and his wife Anna, née Zdeňková. Dvořák was the first of fourteen children, only eight of whom survived infancy. Dvořák learned to play violin in elementary school from his teacher Joseph Spitz.
When he was thirteen Dvořák was sent to Zlonice, also in the Czech Republic, to live with his uncle Antonín Zdenĕk in order to learn the German language. Dvořák took organ, piano, violin and music theory lessons, along with learning of the famous composers of the time, from his German language teacher Anton Liehmann. Dvořák left for Prague in September 1857 in order to join the cities only organ school. Dvořák graduated from the Organ School in 1859 and failed on procuring a job as the organist at St. Henry's Church, after which he decided to support himself fanatically as a full-time musician.
In 1858, he joined Karel Komzák's orchestra which became part of the Bohemian Provisional Theater Orchestra. He met his wife when need for money forced him to teach piano lessons, he fell in love with Josefína Čermáková, one of his students, but when she did not return his love he married her sister Anna Čermáková. They had nine children, six of whom survived infancy. After he married he left the National Theatre Orchestra and started working for St. Adalbert’s Church in Prague, so he could support his wife and family. In 1877 Dvořák started to gain an international reputation, his music attracted the attention of the famous Johannes Brahms, whom Dvořák admired greatly, and after a successful performance in London in 1883, he was invited to perform and tour the rest of England. Dvořák also visited Russia, and conducted the orchestras in Moscow and in St. Petersburg. From 1892 to 1895, Dvořák was the director of the National Conservatory of
When he was thirteen Dvořák was sent to Zlonice, also in the Czech Republic, to live with his uncle Antonín Zdenĕk in order to learn the German language. Dvořák took organ, piano, violin and music theory lessons, along with learning of the famous composers of the time, from his German language teacher Anton Liehmann. Dvořák left for Prague in September 1857 in order to join the cities only organ school. Dvořák graduated from the Organ School in 1859 and failed on procuring a job as the organist at St. Henry's Church, after which he decided to support himself fanatically as a full-time musician.
In 1858, he joined Karel Komzák's orchestra which became part of the Bohemian Provisional Theater Orchestra. He met his wife when need for money forced him to teach piano lessons, he fell in love with Josefína Čermáková, one of his students, but when she did not return his love he married her sister Anna Čermáková. They had nine children, six of whom survived infancy. After he married he left the National Theatre Orchestra and started working for St. Adalbert’s Church in Prague, so he could support his wife and family. In 1877 Dvořák started to gain an international reputation, his music attracted the attention of the famous Johannes Brahms, whom Dvořák admired greatly, and after a successful performance in London in 1883, he was invited to perform and tour the rest of England. Dvořák also visited Russia, and conducted the orchestras in Moscow and in St. Petersburg. From 1892 to 1895, Dvořák was the director of the National Conservatory of