Quick Facts
New World Symphony. Czech composer who captured both homeland folk tunes and American spirit.
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Life Journey
Antonin Dvorak was born to Frantisek and Anna Dvorak in Nelahozeves, a village near Prague, in the Austrian Empire.
Dvorak moves to Prague to study music at the Organ School, where he excels in harmony, counterpoint, and piano.
Dvorak joins the Provisional Theatre Orchestra as a violinist, led by Bedrich Smetana, which provides him with valuable musical experience.
Dvorak completes his first symphony, a significant early work that reflects his growing compositional skills and Czech national spirit.
Dvorak marries Anna Cermakova, a talented singer, and they go on to have nine children, though only six survive infancy.
Dvorak receives a state scholarship from the Austrian government, which helps support his career and encourages his compositional work.
Dvorak's 'Moravian Duets' and 'Slavonic Dances' are published, bringing him international recognition and financial success.
Dvorak is appointed professor of composition at the Prague Conservatory, where he teaches and influences a new generation of composers.
Dvorak visits England for the first time, where his music is warmly received, leading to multiple return trips and commissions.
Dvorak moves to New York City to become the director of the National Conservatory of Music, where he composes the 'New World Symphony'.
Dvorak completes his most famous work, 'Symphony No. 9, From the New World,' which incorporates American folk tunes and African-American spirituals.
Dvorak returns to Prague after three years in the United States, missing his homeland and family, and resumes his position at the Conservatory.
Dvorak's 'Requiem' is premiered in London to great acclaim, solidifying his reputation as a leading composer of the late Romantic era.
Dvorak is appointed director of the Prague Conservatory, a position he holds until his death, furthering his influence on Czech music education.
Antonin Dvorak dies in Prague after a brief illness, leaving behind a rich legacy of symphonies, operas, and chamber music.