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.
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904): O Silver Moon, from Rusalka; Renée Fleming, soprano; London Symphony; Sir Georg Solti, conductor; London 455 760