Czech it out

Smetana deeply influenced Antonín Dvořák (1841), who achieved international fame. Dvořák’s New World Symphony, composed during his time in America, blended American influences with his Czech roots, ultimately achieving a universal appeal. The more rural Moravia, deeply connected to folk traditions, gave rise to Leoš Janáček (1854), whose unique style was shaped by the rhythms and intonations of the Moravian language. His works Jenůfa and The Cunning Little Vixen showcase his expressive, language-driven musical voice. 

In the 20th century, Bohuslav Martinů (1890-1959) brought Czech music into the modern era by combining traditional elements with avant-garde techniques, especially in his Concerto for Orchestra. Other notable composers–Josef Suk, Vítězslav Novák, Erwin Schulhoff, and Jan Václav Hugo Voříšek–continued to develop the Czech musical identity, enriching it with modernist influences and securing its place in European classical tradition. 

Czech music: a tradition rooted in folklore

By the end of the 19th century, Czech music underwent a profound transformation, spearheaded by figures like Smetana and Dvořák. During Austrian and Hungarian rule, Czech composers sought to express their cultural independence through music. They drew from folk traditions to break free from German and Austrian influences, creating a distinct national style. Smetana’s Má vlast is a key example of this approach: through Czech landscapes, legends, and traditional melodies, he crafted a symphonic cycle that captured the spirit of Bohemia. In Vltava (The Moldau), he uses music to trace the course of the river through the countryside, weaving folk dances into the music to symbolize national unity. 

Dvořák expanded this vision with a broader perspective. His Slavonic Dances fuse the lively rhythms of the mazurka and polka with classical structures, attracting audiences well beyond Central Europe. By incorporating traditional instruments such as the zither and pan flute, Dvořák became a musical ambassador, bringing Czech identity to the wider European stage. In the hands of these composers, music became both a powerful form of resistance and cultural affirmation. Their works responded to political tensions while expressing the spirit of a people determined to preserve and celebrate their heritage.

Major works in the Czech repertoire

Leoš Janáček’s Iconic Contributions

Leoš Janáček (1854–1928) dedicated his life to creating music that spoke with honesty and authenticity. “Look within yourselves and be true,” he often told his students—an artistic credo that shaped all of his compositions. Janáček began his career as an organist and choirmaster, but it wasn’t until later in life that he fully turned towards composition. In the 1880s, he began collecting Moravian folk songs and developed a distinct musical language influenced by speech patterns and local rhythms. This focus on the natural prosody of language eventually gravitated his interest to opera. His breakthrough came with Jenůfa (1918), which earned him international acclaim. This success led to masterpieces such as The Cunning Little Vixen, The Makropulos Affair, and From the House of the Dead—works that masterfully combine realism, deep emotion, and touches of dry humor. 

Beyond opera, Janáček was also a prolific composer of chamber music and orchestral works. His Sinfonietta is a brilliant showcase of orchestral color and national pride. His String Quartets Nos. 1 and 2 and his Piano Sonata 1.X.1905 offer intimate glimpses into his emotional world, balancing dramatic tension with lyrical beauty. In works like his Sonata for Violin and Piano, Janáček drew inspiration from nature and daily life—capturing, for instance, the rhythms of birdsong in his phrasing. Rejecting conventional harmonic systems, he sought out the organic musicality of folk traditions, creating a body of work that remains profoundly human, innovative, and moving.

Dvořák’s salient works

Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904) captured the essence of the Slavic soul—its warmth, lyricism, and emotional depth—in music that continues to resonate worldwide. Among his most beloved compositions is the Cello Concerto in B minor (1894), now one of the most frequently performed concertos in the repertoire. Beneath radiant lyricism lies a quiet, poignant tribute to his sister-in-law Josefa, whose favorite melody he delicately weaves into the music. During his 1893 stay in Spillville, Iowa, Dvořák composed the “American” String Quartet in just thirteen days, drawing inspiration from spirituals and Native American songs. Two years earlier, he had already broken new ground with the Dumky Trio, an innovative piece that abandons traditional structure in favor of six successive dumky—Slavic musical forms that oscillate dramatically between introspection and exuberant virtuosity. Dvořák also made a lasting impact in opera with Rusalka, whose “Song to the Moon” remains one of the most haunting and poetic arias in the operatic repertoire. 

His most universally recognized achievement, however, is Symphony No. 9, “From the New World”, a masterpiece that bridges Europe and America: tradition and innovation. This symphony embodies Dvořák’s ambition to create music both deeply Czech and universally accessible. Finally, his Slavonic Dances (Op. 46 and Op. 72) are joyful, rhythmically vibrant celebrations of Bohemian folk music, crafted with classical elegance and precision. These works helped establish Dvořák as a true musical ambassador for Czech culture on the world stage.

Smetana in the musical canon

Bedřich Smetana (1824–1884) is widely regarded as the father of Czech classical music, having laid the foundation for a national musical identity that inspired the generations of composers who came after. With over 150 works, he focused primarily on opera and orchestral music, while also making significant contributions to piano and chamber music. Smetana’s early keyboard pieces, including the Six Pieces for Piano (1848) dedicated to Franz Liszt, demonstrate the influence of German Romanticism, particularly the styles of Chopin and Schumann. 

Later, in response to Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances, his Czech Dances (1877-1879) embraced authentic folk rhythms and melodies drawn from everyday Bohemian life. Smetana also revolutionized Czech opera: his Brandenburgers in Bohemia was among the first operas to use the Czech language on stage. With The Bartered Bride (Prodaná nevěsta, 1866), he introduced a blend of comic opera and operetta that depicted ordinary characters and everyday stories. Meanwhile, Libuše (1872) and Dalibor (1868) drew on national legends and epic themes, further strengthening his role in shaping a cultural identity through music. His most celebrated contribution remains the symphonic cycle Má vlast (My Homeland, 1874–1879), a musical portrait of Czech landscape, history, and spirit. The most popular movement, Vltava (The Moldau), paints the river’s journey through the countryside, using flowing melodies, shifting keys, and folk-inspired rhythms to capture the strength and beauty of Bohemia.

Czech music on medici.tv

Explore the richness of Czech classical music on medici.tv, the world's leading platform for classical music video streaming. Immerse yourself in countless masterworks by Smetana, Dvořák, Janáček, and Martinů—performed by today’s leading artists. Highlights include Smetana’s 200th anniversary celebration, featuring a magnificent tribute concert with Jakub Hrůša conducting the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. Experience the power of Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass, brought to life by Asmik Grigorian, Jennifer Johnston, and Jan Martiník, with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Karina Canellakis. You’ll also find unforgettable performances by Czech stars such as conductor Jakub Hrůša, soprano Gabriela Beňačková, and harpsichordist Václav Luks, who led the moving 2018 concert commemorating the end of World War I and the centenary of the Czech Republic. For opera lovers, medici.tv offers full productions of Czech masterpieces including Janáček’s The Makropoulos Affair, Martinů’s The Greek Passion, and Dvořák’s Rusalka—available to stream anytime, anywhere.

Czech music today

Czech music in the 20th century

In the 20th century, Czech music continued to flourish in the steps of Smetana, Dvořák, and Janáček, while all the while embracing new forms, colors, and ideas. Composers sought to modernize Czech traditions, accomplishing this by blending national identity with evolving international trends. At the forefront of this transformation was Bohuslav Martinů (1890–1959), whose lyrical and imaginative style bridged tradition and the avant-garde. Works like The Kitchen Revue (1927), a jazz-influenced ballet, and The Tears of the Knife (1928), a surrealist opera, reflect his bold experimentation. Later, in exile, he composed deeply nostalgic works such as the Nonet (1959), infused with longing for his homeland.

Though Leoš Janáček had already established his place in Czech music history, his influence deepened in the 20th century, particularly through works like The Cunning Little Vixen (1923) and the Sinfonietta (1926). His style, marked by speech-influenced rhythms, modern harmonies, and folkloric themes, profoundly shaped his contemporaries and students. Several other composers contributed to this fruitful period: Jaromír Weinberger (1896–1967) blended humor and folklore in operas like Švanda dudák (Schwanda the Bagpiper); Jan Kunc (1883–1976), a student of Janáček, wrote symphonic poems and choral works that sought balance between tradition and modern expression, and Theodor Schaefer (1904–1969), a theorist and educator, developed the diathematic principle, a compositional technique that ensured coherence by transforming and reusing thematic fragments throughout a piece. Together, these composers shaped a vibrant 20th-century Czech repertoire—where tradition met modernity, and where the Czech spirit found renewed voice through evolving musical language.

Festivals celebrating Czech music

Today, Czech music is honored and kept alive through festivals that serve as both cultural celebrations and musical pilgrimages. The Prague Spring Festival (Pražské jaro), founded in 1946, is the most iconic. It opens every year on May 12th, the anniversary of Smetana’s death, with a performance of Má vlast–making sure never to miss Vltava, his beloved tone poem dedicated to the river flowing through Bohemia. This annual tradition has become a national symbol of musical pride. In September, the Dvořák Prague Festival commemorates Antonín Dvořák and his contemporaries. Featuring performances by the Czech Philharmonic and international soloists, the festival highlights Dvořák’s lyrical style, folklore inspiration, and his enduring legacy through symphonies, concertos, and chamber works. As the country’s oldest music festival, the Smetana Festival in Litomyšl honors the composer’s life in his hometown each summer. Taking place in the historic Litomyšl Castle, this open-air festival offers attendees an immersive journey into the life and legacy of the “father of Czech music.” In the historic eastern region of Moravia, the Concentus Moraviae festival breathes life into castles, churches, and courtyards. This traveling event brings together Baroque music, jazz, and regional folklore, celebrating the rich fabric of Czech musical diversity in a uniquely intimate way. Last but certainly not least, Czech music takes on the world stage: in 2025, the Bard Music Festival in New York dedicated its 35th edition to Bohuslav Martinů, focusing on his innovative work within the broader context of Czech musical identity. These festivals not only celebrate the genius of Czech composers, but also reveal the depth of the country’s musical heritage—rooted in folklore, shaped by history, and brought to life through virtuosity and imagination.