Cruel Destiny
Donald Macleod tells the story of Smetana's final years, as he lost his hearing, became unemployed and experienced marriage woes. He also wrote his most famous work, Ma Vlast.
On 5th September 1874, Smetana wrote to the Chairman of the Board of the Provisional Theatre, where he was employed as chief conductor: "It is my cruel destiny that I may lose my hearing". Six weeks later, he was completely deaf. He immediately set to work on what would become his most famous and popular work, Ma Vlast, a brilliant evocation of the landscape of his native land. The next ten years were desperately difficult. Smetana was unemployed, with financial anxieties, marriage woes, often in pain, constantly depressed. Donald Macleod tells the story of Smetana's final years.
Last on
More episodes
Next
You are at the last episode
Music Played
-
![]()
Bedrich Smetana
Ma vlast [My country] - cycle of symphonic poems
Conductor: Vladimir VALEK Performer: Prague Radio Orchestra
- SUPRAPHON.
- SU-3916-2.
-
![]()
Bedrich Smetana
Reves [Sny] - characteristic pieces for piano
Performer: Kathryn STOTT - Piano
- CHANDOS.
- CHAN-10430.
-
![]()
Bedrich Smetana
Quartet no. 1 in E minor (From my life) for strings
Performer: Dante String Quartet
- HYPERION.
- CDA-67845.
-
![]()
Bedrich Smetana
Prague carnival - introduction and polonaise for orchestra
Conductor: Gianandrea NOSEDA Performer: 大象传媒 Philharmonic
- CHANDOS.
- CHAN-10413.
Broadcasts
- Fri 2 Dec 2011 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
- Fri 2 Dec 2011 18:30大象传媒 Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time 鈥� why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.