大象传媒

Young Smetana鈥檚 musical talent was obvious, but would that be enough to get his life on track? Presented by Donald Macleod.

The title of Smetana鈥檚 most popular work, 鈥楳a Vlast鈥�, gives us a clue to what drove him through much of his career. It translates as 鈥楳y Homeland鈥� and the music is Smetana鈥檚 ardent tribute to the Czech sprit of his beloved Bohemia. The composer was deeply involved with his people鈥檚 struggle for cultural and political independence from the Hapsburg empire. He pledged his art to those aims, and he even took to the streets to fight on the barricades, on one occasion.

Smetana鈥檚 life was also beset by great misfortunes. When times were hardest, he always turned to music, even after illness made composing an almost impossible exertion. He created some of his most extraordinary works under the most painful circumstances. This week, Donald Macleod follows Smetana as he grows from na茂ve revolutionary into one of the foundational figures in Czech music.

In Monday鈥檚 programme, Smetana arrives in Prague as a promising young musician but, with no means of support, he quickly begins to struggle. The composer is faced with many challenges and is forced to learn how to carry on in the face of overwhelming tragedy.

The Bartered Bride: Overture
大象传媒 Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ji艡铆 B臎lohl谩vek

Triumphal symphony, II. Largo maestoso
Jan谩膷ek Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Theodore Kuchar

Polka: Memory of Plze艌
Jan Novotn媒, piano

Wedding Scenes(orch. F. Hertl)
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Robert Stankovsky

Piano Trio in G minor: II. Allegro ma non agitato & III. Presto
Trio Wanderer