大象传媒

Donald Macleod surveys Dvo艡谩k鈥檚 second full year in America when the Czech composer begins to feel unsettled.

Anton铆n Dvo艡谩k became the first Czech composer to achieve global fame. His gift for transforming the folk styles of his native Bohemia into richly romantic classical music won him admirers far beyond his homeland. Consequently, Dvo艡谩k was approached to leave Europe and serve as director of the newly established National Conservatory of Music in America. His sponsors hoped he would help foster a new and distinctive American musical style, less reliant upon Germanic traditions. During his time in America, Dvo艡谩k composed many of his most celebrated works, including his Ninth Symphony and his Cello Concerto. This week, Donald Macleod focuses on Dvo艡谩k鈥檚 American years and uncovers what he achieved there.

During 1894, Dvo艡谩k鈥檚 second full year in America, the charm of the New World was wearing a little thin. The previous year he鈥檇 taken a summer vacation to Spillville where, amongst a Czech community there, Dvo艡谩k had begun to feel pangs of homesickness. His time as Director of the Conservatory of Music was proving productive however dark clouds were slowly appearing. The salary he鈥檇 been promised by Mrs. Thurber, who鈥檇 established the conservatoire, had not been forthcoming; Dvo艡谩k began to wonder if it ever would be. Increasingly disheartened, Dvo艡谩k returned to his native Bohemia for the summer. He returned to America for the Autumn term where he continued to explore African American spirituals, alongside his friend and unofficial student, Harry T. Burleigh, who was developing his own voice as a Black American composer and arranger.

Humoresques, Op 101 No.7 (excerpt)
Inna Poroshina, piano

Suite in A, Op 98B (Allegro)
Russian Philharmonic Orchestra
Dmitry Yablonsky, conductor

String Quartet No 12 in F, Op 96 鈥淭he American鈥� (Vivace)
艩kampa Quartet

Humoresques, Op 101 (excerpt)
Inna Poroshina, piano

Biblical Songs, Op 99 (excerpt)
Magdalena Kozen谩, mezzo-soprano
Berlin Philharmonic,
Simon Rattle, conductor

Harry T. Burleigh
Among the Fuchsias, from Five Songs of Laurence Hope
Cynthia Haymon, soprano
Warren Jones, piano

Harry T. Burleigh
Worth While, from Five Songs of Laurence Hope
Cynthia Haymon, soprano
Warren Jones, piano

Produced by Luke Whitlock