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.
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Music Played
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Bedrich Smetana
Ma vlast [My country] - cycle of symphonic poems
Conductor: Vladimir VALEK Performer: Prague Radio Orchestra
- SUPRAPHON.
- SU-3916-2.
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Bedrich Smetana
Reves [Sny] - characteristic pieces for piano
Performer: Kathryn STOTT - Piano
- CHANDOS.
- CHAN-10430.
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Bedrich Smetana
Quartet no. 1 in E minor (From my life) for strings
Performer: Dante String Quartet
- HYPERION.
- CDA-67845.
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Bedrich Smetana
Prague carnival - introduction and polonaise for orchestra
Conductor: Gianandrea NOSEDA Performer: BBC Philharmonic
- CHANDOS.
- CHAN-10413.
Broadcasts
- Fri 2 Dec 201112:00BBC Radio 3
- Fri 2 Dec 201118:30BBC Radio 3
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