Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884) is the founding figure of Czech national music and the country's most celebrated 19th-century composer. Born in Litomyšl, he became principal conductor of Prague's Provisional Theatre in 1866 and, despite going completely deaf in 1874, produced his most enduring works - the six-poem cycle Má vlast and the opera The Bartered Bride. He died in Prague in 1884 and was buried with the honours of a national hero.
The Czech Philharmonic under the direction of Semyon Bychkov opened the 80th season of Prague Spring (May 12, 2025) with a traditional performance of Má vlast - Bychkov returned to the festival after 27 years.
The recording of Má vlast (Czech Philharmonic / Bychkov, Pentatone) won the prestigious BBC Music Magazine Orchestral Award 2025, with the winner determined by public vote.
The Year of Czech Music 2024 commemorated the 200th anniversary of Smetana's birth with extensive celebrations at home and abroad, including three concerts by the Czech Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall in New York.
The Smetanova Litomyšl Festival celebrated its largest season in history in 2024 - for the first time in a single season, it presented all of Smetana's operas.
Readers of Gramophone magazine voted the Czech Philharmonic as Orchestra of the Year 2024, among other things for the recording of Smetana's Má vlast.
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An exhibition at the Bedřich Smetana Memorial explores the composer's family tree through photographs and genealogical records. Visitors discover the fates of his daughters from both marriages and see curious objects loaned by his descendants.
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Specially designed castle tours for children aged 3 and up, guided by historical characters with interactive experiences in the music salon, dining room, and other corners of this Baroque landmark.
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A prestigious classical music festival in the birthplace of Bedřich Smetana, featuring concerts, opera, and other musical projects in the beautiful setting of the monastery gardens.
Bedřich Smetana's beloved Czech opera about love and tradition. A masterpiece of classical theatre performed at the National Theatre in Prague.
Smetana's legendary symphonic poem cycle "My Homeland" captures Czech nature and history through music. A concert in Prague.
A wind quartet concert for the youngest listeners featuring works by Bedřich Smetana and other Czech composers. A welcoming atmosphere that embraces the natural restlessness of small children.
An inclusive music festival celebrating Bedřich Smetana at the memorial where he spent his final years, with a unique programme for both deaf and hearing visitors.
A concert celebrating the finest compositions of Czech master Bedřich Smetana, performed in classical style.
Bedrich Smetana's classic opera in a unique puppet theatre interpretation by Divadlo Loutek Ostrava. A magical tale of love and tradition in traditional Czech style.
(23 days)
A half-day guided walk through Litomyšl with a costumed knight guide, following the footsteps of famous figures and featuring medieval experiences including crossbow shooting.