Bedřich Smetana (Czech. Bedřich Smetana) was born into a large family of brewer Frantisek Smetana on March 2, 1824, in Litomysl. The family moved frequently. The children studied in Jihlava, then in the gymnasium of the city of Nemecki Brod. Music was always loved in the house, and little Bedrich also played the violin and piano. Bedrich completed his education in Pilsen. He lived in his uncle's house - […]
Bedrich Smetana (Czech Bedřich Smetana) was born in a large family of a brewer Frantisek Smetana, March 2, 1824, at Litomysl. The family moved frequently. The children studied in Jihlava, then in the gymnasium of the city of Nemecki Brod. Music was always loved in the house, and little Bedrich also played the violin and piano.
Bedrich completed his education in Pilsen. He lived in the house of his uncle - professor Joseph Smetana. There the young man got acquainted with the works of great composers and writers, became interested in advanced ideas.
In 1843, Bedřich left for Prague and entered the pianist's school. Josef Proksch. Smetana was fond of the work of Liszt, listened to the concerts of Moscheles and Thalberg. The young man already tried to compose music himself - he wrote piano works. Training in music school He graduated from Proksha in 1846.
Since 1848, Smetana became interested in politics. He could not take part in street fighting on the streets of Prague, but reflected them in his work. Impressed by the events, he wrote "The Song of Freedom". In the summer of 1848, the young composer returned to Prague and opened his own music school. A year later, Bedrich married Katerina Kolarzhova. In those years, the young composer created his famous polkas.
The couple had children - four daughters. Eldest daughter, Bedřiška, inherited her father's talent - he predicted a great musical future for her. In the mid-1850s, three daughters of Smetana died - all except the youngest - Sophia. The composer's grief resulted in a number of elegiac works. He dedicated the piano trio in G minor to his beloved Bedřiška.
In the autumn of 1856, the composer, together with his wife and daughter, left for Swedish Gothenburg. There he worked as a conductor. symphony concerts, teacher and musician of the chamber ensemble. In Gothenburg he wrote three symphonic poems; the most significant of them is considered the second - "Camp Wallenstein". In 1859, Smetana suffered a new loss - his wife, Katerzhina, died of tuberculosis. In grief, the composer supported him new friend –Franz Liszt.
In the summer of 1860, Smetana married Bettina Ferdinandova. In this marriage he had two daughters. While abroad, the composer followed the political events in the Czech Republic. In 1863 Smetana returned to his homeland. Start it concert activity was not successful, and he re-opened the music school.
All this time, Smetana continued to write music. The first successful opera was Brandenburgers in Bohemia. The composer created the foundations of the national Czech opera in the works The Bartered Bride and Dalibor.
Representatives of the reactionary circles did not accept Dalibor, subjecting him to harsh criticism. It was a big disappointment, but Smetana was already working on new opera- "Libuse".
The premiere of "Libuse" took place in 1881. The success was deafening, but the composer himself was almost completely deaf by that time. Deafness has been on the rise since 1874. Smetana retired from people and lived in a forest lodge that belonged to his father-in-law, the huntsman. There he composed several more significant works, but the depression progressed. In 1883, Smetana ended up in a psychiatric clinic in Prague. There he died on May 12, 1884. Bedrich Smetana was buried at the Vysehrad cemetery.
How do I save on hotels?
Everything is very simple - look not only on booking.com. I prefer the RoomGuru search engine. He searches for discounts simultaneously on Booking and 70 other booking sites.
A composer who entered the fight against deafness, who continued to create in spite of his illness...? Yes, but such is the fate of Bedřich Smetana... The encounter with illness is just one of those dramatic situations that marked the path of this composer, who laid the foundations of the Czech composer school. “I tasted the bitterness of life to the fullest ... but I also experienced wonderful, magical, and majestic moments,” Smetana himself said about his life.
Bedrich Smetana was born in the Czech Republic ... Alas, rather, in the Austrian Empire, of which the Czech Republic was at that time. For almost two hundred years, the Czechs were subjected to forcible Germanization - on Czech no books were published, there was no teaching in schools, and it was even forbidden to speak it. However, in the house of Frantisek Smetana, the brewer of the Litomyšl Castle, this prohibition was not observed, but here they followed the old tradition of the Czechs, which is a passion for music. The father of the future composer played the violin, and the musical atmosphere contributed to early manifestation Bedrichich's abilities: the boy began to play the violin and piano at the age of five, a year later he already performed, and in school years already composed music. Despite such a clear talent, the father wanted to see his son as an economist. Bedrich went to Prague, where he entered the academic gymnasium.
But more than the lessons, the young man was fascinated by concerts and playing music with friends. important event in the life of a young musician was the arrival of Franz Liszt with concerts in Prague. Shocked by his performance, Smetana decides to leave the gymnasium and devote himself entirely to music.
In 1843, Bedrich managed to get a job as a home music teacher for the children of Count Thun, and this saves him from material problems, moreover, in the salon of this passionate music lover, they gather interesting people- public figures, musicians, here Smetana met with his wife when they visited Prague. But the young musician yearns for activity, he undertakes a concert tour of the cities of the Czech Republic - but the music of romantic composers does not resonate with the public. Being in a desperate situation, he wrote to Franz Liszt, attaching to the letter "Six character plays", which were dedicated to him. The illustrious virtuoso pianist and composer received many such messages, but Smetana's pieces attracted attention, and through the efforts of Liszt they were published in Prague.
The suppression of the uprising that broke out in Prague in 1848 was a heavy blow for Smetana: many of his friends were arrested and exiled. Did Smetana himself take a direct part in revolutionary events, it is not known exactly - but he definitely took part in them as a composer, creating the "Song of Freedom". In subsequent years, Smetana paid much attention to the creation of polka, poetizing this genre of Czech musical folklore.
1855-1856 became difficult for the composer. Like many other compatriots, he laid big hopes on the marriage of the emperor with Princess Elizabeth, who was credited with democratic aspirations, and on the eve of this event, he wrote his first and only symphony - "Triumphal". Having sent it to Vienna, he received no response, but the premiere of the symphony in Prague was his debut as a conductor. Subsequently, the composer, convinced of the falsity of his hopes, forbade it to be performed. During these years, three daughters of the composer and his friend Karel Havlicek, who returned from exile, died one after another. the only joyful event becomes a meeting with who visited Prague.
The political situation forced the composer to leave the Czech Republic for some time, and in 1856-1861. He lives in Gothenburg. At this time, he creates symphonic poems based on the works of Friedrich Schiller and William Shakespeare, gives concerts as a pianist and conductor. Returning to his homeland, the composer begins the struggle for the opening of a national opera house. Through his efforts, in 1862, the Provisional Theater was created in Prague. Operas by Bedřich Smetana were staged on its stage, including the most famous - The Bartered Bride, and in 1881 new theater- National - opens with a staging of his new creation - the opera "Libuse".
No less than in the opera, the composer's talent manifested itself in symphonic music. After the Triumphal Symphony, he no longer wrote in this genre, preferring the poem. The peak of his work in this field was the cycle of poems "My Motherland".
The activities of Bedřich Smetana are diverse: he taught and directed the Prague Verb (choral society), founded the Philharmonic Society, and conducted opera performances. Only illness put a limit to this vigorous activity: in 1874, Smetana, losing his hearing and suffering from a nervous disease, leaves Prague and spends last years life in the village of Yabkenitsa. Despite the progressive disease, he continues to create, creating a quartet "From my life" and other compositions.
Smetana died in 1884. At his funeral in Prague, a crowd of thousands gathered, a march from Dalibor and other themes from his works sounded. Monuments to Smetana are installed in several cities of the Czech Republic. Annual music Festival « Prague Spring” opens on May 12 - on the anniversary of his death, and on the first day of the festival, the cycle “My Motherland” is performed.
All rights reserved. Copying is prohibited.
Smetana was born into the family of a brewer in Litomyšl Castle. He grew up and was brought up (in the family and at school) in a German-speaking environment. Later, in adulthood, imbued with the ideas of Czech nationalism, learned the Czech language and changed the name Friedrich to Bedřich. Early showing musical ability He began learning to play the piano and violin. At the age of eight, he began to compose, but his father wanted him to become an economist. Nevertheless, after graduating from the Pilsen Lyceum, Smetana went to Prague, where he improved his piano skills. During these years financial support young musician provided by Franz Liszt, who highly appreciated his talent. Thanks to Liszt, Smetana managed in 1848 to publish some of his compositions and open his own music school, where he began to teach piano.
In 1856, Smetana received an invitation to the post of conductor of symphony concerts in Gothenburg, where he worked for the next five years also as a teacher and musician of a chamber ensemble. Returning to Prague in 1863, he founded another music school with the aim of promoting Czech music. In 1866, Smetana received a position as chief conductor of the National Opera House of the Czech Republic, in whose orchestra at that time an unknown young musician and aspiring composer Antonin Dvořák played the viola. Many of Smetana's operas based on Czech folk themes were staged for the first time in this theater.
In 1874, Smetana fell seriously ill (according to one version, with syphilis) and, due to almost complete hearing loss, was forced to leave his post. Having retired from active social work and settled with his daughter Zofia and her husband, a forester on the Yabkenitsa farm, he continued to compose music. In 1883, due to progressive melancholy, he was placed in mental asylum in Prague, where he died on May 12, 1884. The composer is buried at the Visegrad cemetery.
Creation
Smetana is one of the largest musicians in the Czech Republic, considered the founder of the national school of composers. He was the first composer to use Czech folk themes and motifs in his compositions. The first ever opera written entirely in Czech (“Brandenburgers in the Czech Republic”) also belongs to his pen. The work of Smetana had a huge influence on Czech composers of subsequent generations - Antonin Dvořák, Zdeněk Fibich and others.
The symphonic poem "Vltava" (Moldau) became the unofficial Czech national anthem.
Memory
- In memory of Smetana, the Prague Spring festival opens on the day of his death, May 12, with the performance of famous essay composer - the cycle "My Motherland".
- monuments outstanding composer installed in Litomyšl, Pilsen, Olomouc and other Czech cities.
Major writings
operas
- "Branibors in Bohemia" (Branibo?i v ?ech?ch; 1863)
- "The Traded Bride" (Prodan? nev? Sta; 1866, second edition 1870)
- "Dalibor" (Dalibor; 1867)
- "Libushe" (Libu?e; 1872)
- "Two widows" (Dv? vdovy; 1874)
- "The Kiss" (Hubi?ka; 1876)
- "Mystery" (Tajemstv?; 1878)
- "Devil's Wall" (?ertova st?na; 1882)
- "Viola" (Viola; 1872-1884, not finished)
Symphonic works
- "Swedish Songs", a cycle of symphonic poems: "Richard III", "Camp Wallenstein", "Hakon Jarl" (1859-1861)
- "My Motherland", a cycle of symphonic poems: "Vysehrad", "Vltava", "Sharka", "In the forests and meadows of the Czech Republic", "Tabor", "Blanik" (1874-1879)
- Symphony E-dur "Triumphal" (1853-1854)
- "Prague Carnival" (not finished)
Chamber works
- Piano trio g-moll
- Two string quartets (e-moll "From my life", 1876; d-moll, 1883)
- Suite "From the Motherland" for violin and piano
Compositions for piano
- Sonata e-moll for two pianos eight hands (1846)
- Six Preludes
- Rondo C-dur
- Polish women
- Czech dances
Vocal and choral compositions
- Five songs for voice and piano to words by Viteslav Galek
- Czech songs for male choir a capella
- Three songs for women's choir a capella
The creative activity of Smetana proceeded in the conditions national revival Czech Republic. For several centuries (since 1620) this country was part of the Austrian monarchy as an oppressed nation. Hence - its economic backwardness, prohibition mother tongue belittling the sense of national dignity.
WITH late XVIII century in the Czech Republic, a movement of "awakeners" - Czech enlighteners (scientists, writers, public figures), who fought for the revival national culture. Thanks to their efforts, at the turn of the 18th-19th centuries, the Department of the Czech language was founded at the University of Prague, the Prague Conservatory, and the Organ School.
The protest against foreign oppression culminated in the Prague Uprising of 1848, which was violently suppressed. Political repression, which followed his defeat, forced many figures of Czech culture to leave their homeland. Among them was Smetana, who from 56-61. lived in Sweden, in Gothenburg. Here he organized Symphony Orchestra with whom he performed in different countries as a conductor and pianist.
A new wave of the liberation movement, which contributed to the rise of Czech culture, begins in the 60s of the XIX century. This rise is inextricably linked with the activities of Smetana. By personality, he was a pronounced leader, an unusually active, energetic nature. He was always in the thick of social events. There was no such area of Czech musical and social life in which Smetana did not take an active part. In just one decade - the 60s XIX years century - he opened the first Czech music school; headed the "Temporary Theater" created on his initiative, on the stage of which performances were staged in the Czech language; led the music section in the Union of Czech Cultural Figures "Smart Conversation" and the largest choral society "Verb Prague", for whom he composed many choirs; was the organizer and conductor of symphony and choral concerts.
Like Glinka in Russia, Smetana "laid the foundation" of the national opera and program symphonic music.
Opera creativity
Composer's interest in opera genre was constant and this is due not only to his creative inclinations: Smetana was well aware that it was the opera that was most capable of expressing the national liberation aspirations of the Czech people. Already in his first opera - "Brandenburgers in the Czech Republic"- he refers to himself hot topic modernity, the theme of the liberation struggle. The plot from the history of the Czech Republic resurrected the events of the 13th century, when German feudal lords ruled the Czech land, and directly echoed the struggle against the Austrian monarchy waged by the composer's contemporaries.
From the "Brandenburgers ..." heroic line in opera goes to "Dalibor", and then to "Libusha". The brightest among all three heroic operas - "Dalibor". Its content is sharply dramatic. Main character- a noble knight who led the anti-feudal peasant uprising and was executed by order of the king. The libretto intertwines real historical facts and folk legends. Separate moments operas are reminiscent of Beethoven's Fidelio (a brave girl, dressed in a man's dress, sneaks into prison to save her lover). However, the point is not only in the plot: Beethoven's freedom-loving pathos is felt in the very music of the opera.
Along with heroic-patriotic operas, Smetana also composed comic. These are "The Bartered Bride", "Two Widows", "Kiss", "Mystery". They show everyday life ordinary people from the people. Best among comic operas Sour cream - "The Bartered Bride" (1866), which became the first Czech opera to receive world recognition. Her heroes seem to be snatched from the life of the Czech village: this is the farm laborer Yenik - resourceful and savvy; his bride is the tender and sly Mazhenka; stupid and spoiled Vashek, self-confident village matchmaker Ketzal; prudent parents of Mazhenka, dreaming of a rich son-in-law, etc.
One of the main participants in the events taking place in the opera is the people. Together with Mazhenka, the peasants condemn Yenik for imaginary apostasy, and at the end of the opera, they congratulate the couple in love from the bottom of their hearts. That's why it's important place in "The Bartered Bride" occupy popular scenes. They begin and end all three acts of the opera.
embodying folk characters, the composer naturally relied on typical features Czech folk music, first of all - Czech dances (this is polka, skochna, furiant). So, for example, in the character of the polka, the cheerful chorus “How can we not have fun”, which opens the first act, is sustained. Its melody sounds like an authentic folk song.
The vocal style of The Bartered Bride in many ways resembles the style of Russian classical opera in its reliance on folk song (despite the fact that there are almost no citations) and the rejection of external virtuosity (an example is Yenik's arioso - No. 81).
In area symphonic music Smetana preferred the genre of the program symphonic poem (apparently due to the influence of Liszt, whom he met in his youth). Main symphonic work Smetana - grandiose cycle of 6 symphonic poems "My motherland"("Vyshegrad", "Vltava", "Sharka", "In Czech Meadows and Forests", "Tabor", "Blanik").
Gained the most popularity symphonic poem "Vltava", where the theme of the Motherland is revealed through the image of a mighty river. As explained in the author's program, the music of the poem depicts the entire path of the Vltava from its very beginnings. The combination of the immutable (the image of the river) with the changeable (pictures and phenomena accompanying the flow of the Vltava) caused an appeal to the form of a free rondo
Unlike Russian folklore, there are almost no wide drawn-out melodies in Czech folklore. Most Czech songs have a dance character and are distinguished by cheerful cheerfulness.
The cycle arose in the early years of deafness (this terrible misfortune befell the composer at the age of 50), when other wonderful works were created: string Quartet"From My Life", "Czech Dances" for piano.
Sour cream(Smetana) Bedrich (1824-1884) - Czech composer, conductor, pianist, musical and public figure. He studied violin with his father, a music lover, then piano with J. Khmelik and others, composition with I. Proksh. From 1856 he lived in Gothenburg (Sweden), in 1861 he returned to Prague. Creativity and social activity composer, who worked under the conditions of the reactionary rule of the Austrian Habsburg Empire, contributed to the flourishing of not only music, but the whole artistic culture Czech Republic. From 1830 he performed with success as a pianist at home and abroad. From 1853 he acted as a symphony conductor (after returning to Prague he organized subscription concerts, where he also conducted works by Russian composers). In 1866 - 1874 chief conductor"Provisional Theatre". He headed the musical section of the Craftsman's Conversation, worked with the Verb Prazhsky choir (he wrote works for him in Czech texts). Music-critical articles by Smetana contributed to the awakening of public interest in Czech and Slavic musical art. He taught, including in 1848-1856 at his own music school opened by him (Prague). After a sudden loss of hearing in 1874, he stopped performing activities but continued to work.
Creativity Smetana is distinguished by a bright national identity. The peaks of his composer heritage are operatic and program symphonic works, the founder of Czech opera, Smetana, developed its genres - heroic-patriotic ("Brandenburgers in the Czech Republic", dedicated to the expulsion of the Germans in the 13th century; music is permeated with song-march intonations), lyrical-comic ( "The Bartered Bride", the music uses the rhythms and intonations of Czech folk songs and dances), tragic (“Dalibor”), epic (“Libuse”, sings the wisdom and strength of the Czech people). Symphony cycle"My Motherland" approved the classical traditions of Czech symphonic music (continued and developed by A. Dvorak) - democracy, national identity, patriotism. In his work on the cycle, Smetana, relying on the traditions of romantic program symphonism (mainly F. Liszt), used historical material, folk legends and melodies. Many chamber instrumental works are tragic character, are colored by personal experiences (death of loved ones, own illness and hearing loss). Vocal works are imbued with folk song intonations, rhythms folk dances- many piano pieces. The Prague Spring music festival opens every year with the performance of the My Homeland cycle. In 1910-1927 a progressive music magazine"Smetana". The B. Smetana Society has existed since 1931. The name of Smetana was given to the 2nd scene National Theater and the largest concert hall in Prague. There are 3 museums named after Smetana in Czechoslovakia, one in Gothenburg. Published since 1940 complete collection essays.
