Important dates in the life of Antonín Dvořák

8. 9.

born in Nelahozeves

9. 9.

christened

6. 7.

fire breaks out in the family home, Dvořák carried out of the house to safety by his father

1. 10.

starts primary school in Nelahozeves, studies singing and the violin with Josef Spitz, later plays in the village band and in church

July

leaves primary school, begins as a butcher’s apprentice under the supervision of his father

October (?)

moves to Zlonice, takes classes with Antonín Liehmann

August

parents move to Zlonice

(?)

starts school in Česká Kamenice, where he continues his music education under Franz Hanke

31. 7.

receives leaving certificate from the school in Česká Kamenice

September

moves to Prague, lives at 238 Dominikánská (now Husova) street with the family of his cousin Marie Plívová, attends organ school

1. 10.

begins his studies at the parochial school affiliated to the church of Our Lady of the Snows, meets Karel Bendl

15. 11.

first appearance as a violist at a concert organised by the Cecilian Association

28. 8.

receives leaving certificate from the school affiliated to the church of Our Lady of the Snows

September

starts his second year at the organ school

30. 7.

graduation concert at the organ school

September (?)

joins the Komzák Ensemble

29. 11.

applies for the position of organist at St Henry’s church

January–June

moves to 558 Karlovo namesti to stay with his aunt Josefa Dušková and uncle Václav Dušek

March

application for the position of organist at St Henry’s denied

March

presents himself for recruitment for the first time; is exempt from military service

18. 11.

joins the Provisional Theatre Orchestra as a viola player

?

again excused from military service

8. 2.

concert in Prague featuring works by Richard Wagner, conducted by the composer (Dvořák’s attendance cannot be verified)

11. 7.

tour to Hamburg with the Komzák Ensemble

?

definitively exempted from military service

autumn

finds lodgings at 1375 Senovážné náměstí

April–December

begins as a piano teacher for the Čermák family

5. 1.

participates in the premiere of Smetana’s opera The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, conducted by the composer

30. 5.

participates in the premiere of Smetana’s opera The Bartered Bride, conducted by the composer

16. 5.

ceremonial laying of the foundation stone of the National Theatre – Dvořák takes part in the gala premiere of Smetana’s Dalibor, conducted by the composer

summer

leaves the Provisional Theatre Orchestra

10. 12.

first known public performance of an independent work (the song “Remembrance”)

17. 10.

is a co-signatory of an open letter in Smetana’s defence

22. 11.

first performance of Piano Quintet in A major, Op. 5

?

begins as a music teacher for the family of Jan Neff

7. 3.

first printed edition of a work by Dvorak (“The Lark” from Songs on the Words of the Dvůr Kralové Manuscript)

9. 3.

first performance of the Hymn “The Heirs of the White Mountain”, Op. 30 – Dvořák’s first major success as a composer

17. 11.

marries Anna Čermáková, moves to the Čermák family residence at 1413 Na Florenci street

September–December

self-critical assessment of works written thus far, he destroys a number of manuscripts

15. 2.

assumes the post of organist at St Adalbert’s church

30. 3.

first performance of Symphony No. 3, conducted by Bedřich Smetana

February–March

Dvořák and his wife move into their own flat at 14 Na Rybníčku street

4. 4.

birth of son Otakar

30. 7.

first application for a state scholarship

autumn (?)

befriends Leoš Janáček

8. 1.

is awarded a state scholarship of 400 gulden for the first time

March

short study trip to Vienna

12. 3.

elected to the committee of the Association of Czech Dramatists and Composers

19. 8.

birth of daughter Josefa

21. 8.

daughter Josefa dies

August

second application for a state scholarship

December

makes the acquaintance of leader of the Florentine Quartet Jean Becker

February

awarded a prize from the artists’ association Umělecká beseda for his String Quintet in G major, Op. 77

5. 3.

is awarded his second state scholarship of 400 gulden

17. 4.

premiere of the opera Vanda at the Provisional Theatre

30. 7.

third application for a state scholarship

18. 9.

birth of daughter Růžena

10. 12.

premiere in Prague of Serenade in E major, Op. 22

30. 12.

applies for a place at a teaching institute

31. 12.

is awarded a third state scholarship of 500 gulden

15. 2.

leaves his post as organist at St Adalbert’s

June

travels round Central Bohemia with Leoš Janáček

26. 6.

fourth application for a state scholarship

August

application for a place at the teaching institute denied

13. 8.

daughter Růžena dies

8. 9.

son Otakar dies

autumn

the Dvořáks move to a flat at 10 Žitná street

2. 12.

premiere of Symphonic Variations, Op. 78, at Žofín Palace in Prague

December

establishes contact with Johannes Brahms

21. 12.

takes part in a performance of Mozart’s Requiem at Žofín Palace in Prague (organ)

27. 1.

premiere of the opera The Cunning Peasant at the Provisional Theatre

24. 3.

premiere in Prague of Piano Concerto in G minor, Op. 33

April

takes part in the first (private) performance of Smetana’s quartet From My Life (viola)

6. 6.

birth of daughter Otilie (later wife of Josef Suk)

August

travels round the Šumava mountains with friends

30. 7.

fifth application for a state scholarship

17. 11.

Dvořák’s first independent concert (Žofín Palace)

27. 11.

elected to the committee of the artists’ association Umělecká beseda

December

travels to Vienna to visit Johannes Brahms and to Brno to visit Leoš Janáček

4. 1.

Johannes Brahms visits the Dvořáks in Prague

15. 2.

London premiere of the Slavonic Dances (selection)

March

is awarded a state scholarship for the fifth time (400 gulden)

25. 3.

premiere in Prague of Symphony No. 5 in F major, Op. 76

16. 5.

premiere in Prague of Czech Suite, Op. 39

24. 9.

premiere in Berlin of the third Slavonic Rhapsody, Op. 45

12. 11.

elected chairman of the music division of the artists’ association Umělecká beseda

13. 1.

birth of daughter Anna

11. 2.

joint concert in Prague given by Joseph Joachim and Johannes Brahms, both visit the Dvořáks at home (?)

29. 3.

independent concert given by Dvořák

24. 4.

concert of Dvořák’s works in Hamburg

9. 5.

performs his own works at a benefit concert in Tursko to raise money for the construction of the National Theatre

May

the Dvořáks move into a larger flat at 10 Žitná street

23. 12.

premiere in Prague of Stabat Mater, Op. 58

4. 2.

premiere in Vienna of Gypsy Songs (Gypsy Melodies)

25. 3.

premiere in Prague of Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op. 60

July (?)

excursion with Leoš Janáček and his wife to Karlštejn

12. 8.

the National Theatre burns down

17. 8.

birth of daughter Magdalena

2. 10.

premiere in Prague of the opera The Stubborn Lovers

22. 4.

London premiere of Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op. 60

8. 10.

premiere in Prague of the opera Dimitrij

19. 10.

takes part (organ) in a performance of Mass in D major by Václav Emanuel Horák at the gala re-opening of the Czech university as an independent institution

24. 10.

Dresden premiere of the opera The Cunning Peasant

November

visits Joseph Joachim in Berlin – rehearsal of the violin concerto

8. 12.

appointed honorary member of the artists’ association Umělecká beseda

15. 12.

Dvořák’s mother Anna dies in Kladno

17. 12.

attends his mother’s funeral

18. 2.

Viennese premiere of Symphony No. 6

7. 3.

birth of son Antonín

10. 3.

London premiere of Stabat Mater, Op. 58

16. 4.

premiere in Prague of Scherzo Capriccioso, Op. 66

July–August

Leoš Janáček visits the Dvořáks in Vysoká, excursions with Janáček

14. 10.

premiere in Prague of Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 53

18. 11.

premiere in Prague of the Hussite Overture, Op. 67

March

first trip to England

14. 6.

is appointed honorary member of the London Philharmonic Society

24. 6.

US premiere of Stabat Mater (Pittsburgh)

September

second trip to England

21. 11.

conducts the Hussite Overture, Op. 67, and Piano Concerto in G minor, Op. 33, in Berlin

7. 2.

gala opening of the Rudolfinum (programme included the second Slavonic Rhapsody, Op. 45)

9. 2.

birth of son Otakar

28. 3.

conducts the premiere of the cantata The Spectre’s Bride, Op. 69

April–May

third trip to England

4. 6.

travels to Karlovy Vary, meeting with Fritz Simrock and Eduard Hanslick

6. 6.

attends the wedding of František Ondříček in Prague

August

fourth trip to England

19. 11.

The Cunning Peasant is performed at Vienna’s Hofoper; the opera prompts anti-Czech demonstrations

2. 12.

The Spectre’s Bride, Op. 69, is performed in the USA (Milwaukee)

1. 4.

London premiere of Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 53

19. 4.

Stabat Mater performed in Vienna

October–November

fifth trip to England

26. 10.

The Spectre’s Bride, Op. 69, is performed in Melbourne

6. 1.

conducts the premiere of the orchestral version of the second series of Slavonic Dances (selection) in Prague

16. 1.

Viennese premiere of Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Op. 70

25. 2.

conducts the Prague premiere of Saint Ludmila, Op. 71

3. 5.

conducts a performance of Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 53, in Vienna

12. 5.

takes part in an act of remembrance at the grave of Bedřich Smetana at Vyšehrad

16. 5.

London premiere of Symphonic Variations, Op. 78

11. 9.

conducts the private premiere of Mass in D major in Lužany on the occasion of the consecration of the castle chapel

December

visits Johannes Brahms in Vienna

6. 1.

premiere in Prague of Piano Quintet in A major, Op. 81

15. 2.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is invited to the Dvořáks’ home during his visit to Prague

26. 3.

Stabat Mater, Op. 58, performed in Zagreb

28. 3

conducts Stabat Mater, Op. 58, in Budapest

4. 4.

birth of daughter Aloisie

9. 4.

Stabat Mater, Op. 58, performed in the USA (Troy)

28. 8.

Stabat Mater, Op. 58, performed in Birmingham

1. 11.

Symphony No. 5 in F major, Op. 76, performed in Manchester

27. 11.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky visits Prague for a second time

January

receives his first offer to take up the post of composition professor at the Prague Conservatoire

12. 2.

premiere of the opera The Jacobin at the National Theatre in Prague

13. 3.

conducts Symphony No. 5 in F major, Op. 76, Nocturne, Op. 40, and the third Slavonic Rhapsody, Op. 45, in Dresden

June

receives the Order of the Iron Crown

13. 9.

turns down the post of professor at the Prague Conservatoire

27. 10.

Berlin premiere of Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Op. 70

9. 12

audience with Emperor Franz Joseph I in Vienna; meets Johannes Brahms

12. 12.

delegation representing various Prague cultural circles comes to congratulate the composer

2. 2.

conducts the premiere of Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88, in Prague

February–March

concert tour in Russia (11. 3. conducts in Moscow, 22. 3. conducts in St Petersburg)

23. 3.

Stabat Mater, Op. 58, performed in Moscow

April

sixth trip to England; elected a member of the Czech Academy of Sciences and Arts

October

accepts another offer to take up the post of professor at the Prague Conservatoire

January

assumes the professorial post at the Prague Conservatoire

17. 3.

receives an honorary degree from Prague’s university

13. 5.

the Rudolfinum hosts the first public concert of works by Dvořák’s composition pupils

6. 6.

receives his first offer to take up the post of director of the New York National Conservatory of Music

June

seventh trip to England where he receives an honorary degree from Cambridge University on 16 June

8. 9.

celebrations in Prague to mark Dvořák’s 50th birthday (the composer was not in attendance, he was in Vysoká at the time)

October

eighth trip to England

December (?)

signs a contract with the National Conservatory of Music in New York

3. 1. – 21. 5.

extended “farewell” concert tour of Bohemia and Moravia before his departure for the USA (series of 40 concerts)

15. 9. – 27. 9.

journey to New York

1. 10.

officially welcomed at the New York Conservatory

9. 10.

concert and banquet in Dvořák’s honour (Czech Club in New York)

21. 10.

conducts his first concert in the USA

17. 11.

conducts Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op. 60, in New York

29. and 30. 11.

conducts Requiem, Op. 89, in Boston

12. 4.

elected a full member of the Berlin Academy of Sciences

8. 5.

concert of works by Dvořák’s composition pupils in New York

31. 5.

Dvořák’s children arrive in New York

3. 6. – 5. 6.

the family travel to Spillville (Iowa) for the summer holidays

August

visit to the World Fair in Chicago (here he conducts on 12 August during the event “Czech Day”)

1. 9. – 3. 9.

visits Omaha

3. 9. – 4. 9.

visits St. Paul (excursion to the Minnehaha Falls)

19. 9.

visits Buffalo (excursion to the Niagara Falls)

21. 9.

begins teaching once again in New York

15. 12.

public full rehearsal for Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, “From the New World”

16. 12.

premiere of Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, “From the New World” in New York’s Carnegie Hall, conducted by Anton Seidl

1. 1.

premiere of String Quartet in F major, Op. 96, in Boston

12. 1.

premiere of String Quintet in E flat major, Op. 97, in New York

23. 1.

conducts a concert organised by the National Conservatory of Music featuring African American musicians

28. 3.

the composer’s father František dies in Velvary

19. 5. – 30. 5.

leaves for Bohemia for the summer holidays

30. 5.

ceremonial welcome at the train station and on the streets of Prague

1. 6.

founding of the informal “Mahulik” table society under Dvořák’s patronage

4. 6.

travels to Vysoká, procession lit with Chinese lanterns in Dvořák’s honour

21. 6.

New World Symphony performed in Europe for the first time (London)

20. 7.

New World Symphony performed in Bohemia for the first time (Karlovy Vary)

8. 9.

consecration of the organ Dvořák donated to the village of Třebsko

13. 10.

conducts the Prague premiere of the New World Symphony at the National Theatre

16. 10. – 26. 10.

travels to New York

October

is appointed honorary member of the Philharmonic Society in New York

1. 11.

begins work at the New York Conservatory once more

16. 2.

is appointed honorary member of the Society of the Friends of Music (Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde) in Vienna

16. 4. – 27. 4.

returns to Bohemia for good

4. 5.

premiere of the cantata The American Flag, Op. 102, in New York

27. 5.

Josefina Kounicová dies

29. 5.

attends the funeral of Josefina Kounicová

30. 5.

meets Fritz Simrock and Eduard Hanslick in Karlovy Vary

1. 11.

takes up his post at the Prague Conservatoire once again

4. 1.

conducts the inaugural concert of the Czech Philharmonic (Biblical Songs, Op. 99, the third Slavonic Rhapsody, Op. 45, Othello, Op. 93, and Symphony No. 9, Op. 95)

16. 2.

Viennese premiere of the New World Symphony

March

ninth and last trip to England

11. 4.

conducts the Prague premiere of Concerto for Cello in B minor, Op. 104

3. 6.

premiere in Prague of the symphonic poems The Water Goblin, Op. 107, The Noon Witch, Op. 108, and The Golden Spinning Wheel, Op. 109

9. 7.

graduation concert of works by Dvořák’s composition pupils

9. 10.

premiere in Prague of String Quartet in G major, Op. 106

21. 1.

premiere in Prague of String Quartet in A flat major, Op. 105

March

travels to Vienna to visit Brahms who is terminally ill

3. 4.

Johannes Brahms dies

6. 4.

attends Brahms’s funeral

June

the New York Conservatory again offers Dvořák the post of director, however, the composer turns it down

23. 9.

attends the funeral of Karel Bendl

November

is appointed member of the jury for the state scholarship award

20. 3.

premiere in Brno of the symphonic poem The Wild Dove, Op. 110, conducted by Leoš Janáček

19. 6.

premiere in Prague of the revised version of The Jacobin

17. 11.

Dvořák’s daughter Otilie marries composer Josef Suk

25. 11.

receives the honorary insignia “Litteris et artibus” from the emperor

4. 12.

premiere in Vienna of A Hero’s Song, Op. 111, conducted by Gustav Mahler

28. 1.

Prague premiere of A Hero’s Song, Op. 111

23. 11.

premiere in Prague of the opera The Devil and Kate, Op. 112

19. 12.

takes piano part in a concert of his own chamber works in Budapest

20. 12.

conducts A Hero’s Song, Op. 111, Concerto for Cello in B minor, Op. 104, and Carnival, Op. 92, in Budapest

4. 4.

conducts a Czech Philharmonic concert in Prague (The Wild Dove, Op. 110, and Brahms’s Tragic Overture, Schubert’s Symphony in B minor and Beethoven’s Symphony No.8)

29. 5.

conducts Festival Song, Op. 113, at a gala evening held by the Prague Conservatoire

17. 10.

attends the funeral of Zdeněk Fibich

10. 1. – 24. 1.

has his portrait painted by Max Švabinský

31. 3.

premiere in Prague of Rusalka, Op. 114

April

appointed member of the Upper House in Austria

14. 5.

Dvořák attends proceedings in the Upper House in Vienna for the first and last time

6. 7.

elected director of the Prague Conservatoire

6. 9.

visits Gustav Mahler in Vienna (Dvorak brings the score for Rusalka with him, discussions regarding its performance in Vienna)

21. 9.

opens the first conference organised by teachers at the Conservatoire

8. 9.

celebrations to mark Dvořák’s 60th birthday in Nelahozeves and Prague (Dvořák was not present at the celebrations); the National Theatre launches a series of nine evening performances featuring the composer’s works

10. 11.

special gathering at the National Museum held in Dvořák’s honour with a speech by Karel Knittl; concert (Hussite Overture, Symphony No. 9, The Noon Witch, Cello Concerto, Carnival), gala dinner organised by the artists’ association Umělecká beseda

11. 11.

gala evening at the National Theatre – performance of Saint Ludmila

19. 12.

birth of grandson Josef Suk

March

begins work on his last opus, the opera Armida

3. 4.

attends the funeral of Zdenka Hlávková in Lužany

12. 7.

Dvorak’s composition pupils take their final examinations

25. 3.

meets Edvard Grieg who has come to Prague to conduct some of his own works

20. 10.

daughter Anna marries Dr Josef Sobotka

25. 10.

attends the funeral of his friend Antonin Rus

November

rehearsals for Armida begin at the National Theatre

14. 12.

his mother-in-law Klotilda Čermáková dies

27. 12.

attends the Plzen premiere of The Devil and Kate

29. 12.

attends the funeral of conductor Adolf Čech

1. 3.

full rehearsal for Armida does not go well and is discontinued

25. 3.

premiere in Prague of Armida, Op. 115, Dvořák is taken ill and leaves the theatre before the end

26. 3.

Dvořák’s physician prescribes home treatment and peace and quiet

30. 3.

takes a walk around Vinohrady train station and catches a chill

31. 3

takes to his bed once again

3. 4.

a music festival primarily featuring works by Dvořák is held without his participation

18. 4.

the patient’s state of health worsens with the onset of influenza

1. 5.

the composer dies shortly after midday