Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Smetana is, to my mind, the rare composer whose music is inseparable from a people's sense of self. Calling him the father of Czech music almost undersells it. Ma vlast does not just depict a landscape, it argues for a nation's right to exist on its own cultural terms. What moves me most is that he kept composing after losing his hearing, pouring identity into sound he could no longer experience. That is conviction, not vanity. I find his fusion of folk spirit and serious craft endlessly compelling, and his legacy feels earned in a way pure talent rarely is.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Bedřich Smetana
- Name (Japanese)
- ベドルジハ・スメタナ
- Reading
- べどるじは・すめたな
- Born
- March 2, 1824 – May 12, 1884
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Pisces / Monkey
- Origin
- Litomyšl, Pardubice Region, Czech Republic
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- composer / conductor / teacher / pedagogue / pianist
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Private
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | The Bartered Bride | — | |
| Notable work | Má vlast | — | |
| Notable work | String Quartet No. 1 | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Bedřich Smetana born?
March 2, 1824 – May 12, 1884.
Where is Bedřich Smetana from?
Bedřich Smetana is from Litomyšl, Pardubice Region, Czech Republic.
What does Bedřich Smetana do?
Bedřich Smetana works as composer, conductor, teacher, pedagogue, pianist.
What is Bedřich Smetana known for?
Notable works include The Bartered Bride, Má vlast, String Quartet No. 1.
Composer — see all → · Conductor — see all → · More people from Czech Republic →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.