Dvorak's 'Rusalka'

Synopsis

We tend to think of the Czech composer Antonín Dvořák 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 Dvořák as primarily a composer of symphonies and chamber works, but forget that in his final years, he devoted himself chiefly to opera — and for reasons that might surprise us today.

In a 1904 interview, given just two months before his death, Dvořák 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.”

Dvořák was gratified that 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

Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904): O Silver Moon, from Rusalka; Renée Fleming, soprano; London Symphony; Sir Georg Solti, conductor; 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: March 19)

Deaths

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

• 1901 - British composer John Stainer, 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 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.