大象传媒

Kate Molleson explores Dvo艡谩k鈥檚 vital connection to nature.

Antonin Dvo艡谩k was one of the most heartfelt tunesmiths in classical music - a man who not only brought the sound of Czech folklore to the world, but also had an indelible impact on the musical nationhood of America. As a character he was sometimes shy, sometimes melancholy, routinely homesick and deeply passionate. Through the week Kate Molleson explores five windows onto Dvo艡谩k鈥檚 soul, aspects of life that were really central to his convictions and his music.

Today, Dvo艡谩k the nature-lover. The outside world wasn鈥檛 just something he took a bit of quaint inspiration from, but something he couldn鈥檛 live without. He was scared of crowds, thieves and fire, so cities tested his nerves. His summer house, Vysoka, was the necessary antidote to the demands of a busy metropolitan life, where he walked, wrote, and most importantly, looked after his beloved pet pigeons.

Forget-me-not Polka
Ivo Kah谩nek, piano

Silent Woods (From the Bohemian Forest)
Tanja Tetzlaff, cello
Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin
Paavo J盲rvi, conductor

Serenade for Strings (1st and 2nd movements)
London Chamber Orchestra
Christopher Warren-Green, conductor

Rusalka, Act I: Song to the moon
Renee Fleming, soprano
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Charles Mackerras, conductor

The Wild Dove
Berlin Philharmonic
Simon Rattle, conductor

String Quartet No 12 in F major 鈥淎merican鈥�, Op 96 (3rd movement)
Chilingirian Quartet

Produced by Amelia Parker for 大象传媒 Audio Wales and West