The Legends, Op. 59, for piano duet, were composed by Dvořák without a specific program, but they are characterized by a Bohemian character, reflecting the composer's sense of home.
Composer Biography
Dvořák's early career involved working as a violist in the Theatre Orchestra, which Friedrich Smetana, a notable Czech composer, took over in 1866.
Critical Reception
Dvořák's Legends, Op. 59, were enthusiastically received by critics like Eduard Hanslick, to whom they were dedicated, as well as by Johannes Brahms and the musical public.
Composer Biography
Antonin Dvořák, born in 1841 in a Bohemian village, initially faced pressure to follow his father and grandfather into the butcher trade.
Notable Performances
Dvořák's Symphony No. 2 in B-flat major was performed only once during his lifetime, in 1888, in a revised version.
Composition History
Dvořák's Symphony No. 2 in B-flat major was composed in 1865 when he had a meager income as a violist and shared a room, which gave him access to a piano he couldn't afford himself.
Composer Biography
In 1891, Dvořák was appointed Professor of Composition at the Prague Conservatory and later that year became director of the National Conservatory of Music in New York.
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