An Artist Too Has a Fatherland

Donald Macleod explores the life and work of Antonin Dvorák.

Dvorák's life coincides with an Age of Nationalism across Europe, when cultural distinctions helped to mark out the borders up for grabs in a reformulated Europe. In this programme we'll hear about some of Dvorák's nationally inspired compositions, including his Hussite Overture. It was written in 1883 at the request of František Adolf Šubert, the Director of the National Theatre in Prague, as the overture to a play Šubert intended to write about the times of the Czech hero, the 14th century church reformer and patriot Jan Hus. The main theme adopted by Dvorák is the Hussite hymn, Ye Warriors of God, which was a rallying cry to all Czechs at the time.

Slavonic Dance No. 8 in G minor
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra / Jose Serebrier

King and Charcoal Burner
Prague National Theatre Chorus / Milan Maly
Prague National Theatre Orchestra / Josef Chaloupka

Husitska Overture
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra / Vaclav Neumann

Dumka and Furiant. Op 12
Stefan Vaselka (piano)

Symphony No. 6
III Scherzo - Furiant
IV Finale
Royal Scottish Orchestra / Neeme Jarvi.