Bedrich Smetana (2 March 1824 Litomysl, Bohemia- 12 May 1884 Prague, Bohemia) is considered one of the greatest Czech composers of the 19th century. Bedrich Smetana was a Czech composer who pioneered the development of a musical style which became closely identified with his country's aspirations to independent statehood. He is thus widely regarded in his homeland as the father of Czech music. Internationally he is best known for his opera The Bartered Bride, for the symphonic cycle Má Vlast ("My Fatherland") which portrays the history, legends and landscape of the composer's native land, and for his First String Quartet From My Life. Smetana was naturally gifted as a pianist, and gave his first public performance at the age of six.
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