Northern Exposure

Smetana decides to abandon his woes, his family and his homeland. What can he be thinking? Presented by Donald Macleod.

The title of Smetana’s most popular work, ‘Ma Vlast’, gives us a clue to what drove him through much of his career. It translates as ‘My Homeland’ and the music is Smetana’s ardent tribute to the Czech sprit of his beloved Bohemia. The composer was deeply involved with his people’s struggle for cultural and political independence from the Hapsburg empire. He pledged his art to those aims, and he even took to the streets to fight on the barricades, on one occasion.

Smetana’s life was also beset by great misfortunes. When times were hardest, he always turned to music, even after illness made composing an almost impossible exertion. He created some of his most extraordinary works under the most painful circumstances. This week, Donald Macleod follows Smetana as he grows from naïve revolutionary into one of the foundational figures in Czech music.

Today, Donald finds Smetana making a new start in a new country. But is Sweden really where he wants to be? How can Smetana champion the cause of Czech culture and national identity from a foreign land?

Vision at the Ball
Jitka Cechová, piano

Richard III
BBC Philharmonic, conducted by Gianandrea Noseda

Memories of Bohemia: Nos 2 & 4
Antonin Kubálek, piano

Håkon Jarl
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Rafael Kubelík