Synopsis

We tend to think of the Czech composer Antonin Dvorak as a 19th century composer – but he lived a few years into the 20th and one of his major works, his opera “Rusalka,” had its premiere in Prague on today’s date in 1901. We also think of Dvorak as primarily a composer of symphonies and chamber works, but forget that in his final years, Dvorak devoted himself chiefly to opera – and for reasons that might surprise us today.

In a 1904 interview, given just two months before his death, Dvorak said:  “Over the past five years I have written nothing but operas. I wanted to devote all my powers, as long as the dear Lord gives me health, to the creation of opera … because I consider opera to be the most suitable medium for the Czech nation and the widest audience, whereas if I compose a symphony I might have to wait years before it is performed.”

Dvorak was gratified that his opera “Rusalka” was a big success at its 1901 premiere and would subsequently become one of his most popular works with Czech audiences, but ironically, outside Czech-speaking lands, most of his other operas, unlike his symphonies, are rarely performed.

Music Played in Today's Program

Antonin Dvořák (1841–1904) — O Silver Moon, fr Rusalka (Renée Fleming, soprano; London Symphony; Sir Georg Solti, cond.) London 455 760

On This Day

Births

• 1732 - Austrian composer Franz Joseph Haydn, in Rohrau;

• 1872 - Russian ballet impresario Sergei Diaghilev, in Gruzino, Novgorod district (Julian date: Mar. 19);

Deaths

• 1880 - Polish composer and violinist Henryk Wieniawski, age 44, in Moscow;

• 1901 - British composer Sir John Stainer, age 60, in Verona, Italy;

Premieres

• 1723 - Handel: Concerto in F (HWV 331) (Julian date: March 20);

• 1739 - Handel: Organ Concerto in A (HWV 296a) (Julian date: March 20);

• 1745 - Rameau: opera-ballet, "Platée," at Versailles;

• 1784 - Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 16 in D, K. 451, in Vienna, with composer as soloist;

• 1794 - Haydn: Symphony No. 100 ("Military"), conducted by the composer on his 62nd birthday, at the Hanover-Square Concert Rooms in London;

• 1841 - R. Schumann: Symphony No. 1 ("Spring"), by Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Felix Mendelssohn conducting;

• 1901 - Dvorák: opera "Rusalka," in Prague at the National Theater;

• 1913 - Webern: "Six Pieces" for orchestra, in Vienna;

• 1932 - Chávez: ballet "Horsepower," in Philadelphia;

• 1947 - Ulysses Kay: "Short Overture," in New York City;

• 1949 - William Grant Still: opera "Troubled Island," in New York City;

• 1951 - R. Strauss: "Munich Waltz," posthumously in Vienna; This music was originally written for the 1939 film;

• 1961 - Françaix: "L'Horloge de Flore," by oboist John de Lancie, and the Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy conducting;

• 2001 - Peter Lieberson: Piano Quintet, at Carnegie Hall, by pianist Peter Serkin with the Orion String Quartet;

Others

• 1837 - Franz Liszt and Sigismond Thalberg, the two reigning virtuosi of their day, perform a sort of pianistic "duel" at a benefit concert in aid of Italian refuguees at the Parisian salon of Princess Cristina Belgiojso-Trivulzio.