History
Antonín Dvořák
The story of the world-famous composer Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904) began in the small Bohemian village of Nelahozeves, 35 km north of Prague. He rose from humble origins as the son of a local butcher and innkeeper, to become a celebrated international composer and musical genius. He drew inspiration from the folk traditions of Bohemia to compose great Romantic symphonies. After a struggling early career in Prague, Dvořák made his international breakthrough with his famous Slavonic Dances, supported by Johannes Brahms and his editor Fritz Simrock in the late 1870s. This propelled his career as he composed and conducted throughout Europe, including Austria, Germany, and notably the UK.
During his tenure as the Director of the National Conservatory of Music in New York (1892–1895), Dvořák composed one of his best-known works, Symphony No. 9 (From the New World), which premiered at Carnegie Hall in December 1893. Dvořák encouraged Americans to listen to their unique musical heritage, especially black spirituals and Native American music. The Ninth Symphony was even taken on the 1969 Apollo 11 mission to the moon by Neil Armstrong.
But, for all his international acclaim, Dvořák never forgot his humble roots. He returned to his beloved homeland and composed his most famous opera, Rusalka, in 1900. The sights and sounds of his childhood in Nelahozeves—trains and steamboats, folk music and dancing, church bells and bird song—echoed throughout his life, ever inspiring him to new musical heights.
Dvořák Birth House
The Baroque birth house and surrounding farmstead of Antonín Dvořák is a significant landmark and designated national cultural monument. Standing adjacent to Nelahozeves Castle, the Church of St. Andrew, and the Vltava River, the house dates to the late-16th century and served as the local tavern and social hub of the village. It was bought by the Lobkowicz family in 1884 and later confiscated by the Nazi and Communist regimes. The building was administered by the National Museum from 1976–2019 when the Lobkowicz Collections, o.p.s. took over the building and began its long overdue transformation into a new museum and international musical heritage site.
Museum
Connecting music and place, the immersive and interactive visitor experience is inspired by the sights and sounds of Dvořák’s rural childhood to reveal their influences on his future musical masterpieces. An exhibition of historic objects and imaginative displays combines engaging multimedia content, including a personal audio guide experience, narrated by an older Antonín Dvořák. Visitors will dwell in the authentic atmosphere of the house itself, while also learning the story of Dvořák’s early life.
The house and grounds also serve as a cultural center offering dedicated music education courses, workshops, concerts, a meditation garden, and community enrichment programs for visitors of all ages and capabilities.
The project team includes the Lobkowicz Collections, award-winning master plan architects Wright & Wright, and exhibition design firm Ralph Appelbaum Associates. We also recognize the many experts, individuals, and institutions who have generously provided their knowledge and enthusiastic endorsements to bring to life the important legacy of Antonín Dvořák.
Education & Programming
This national landmark will be a cultural center for education, inspiring and nurturing young musical talent with dedicated rehearsal and performance spaces, courses, and workshops that will accommodate age and interest groups of all kinds. Diverse outreach programs will offer new ways to appreciate and engage with Dvořák’s life and music. New landscaping, improved infrastructure, and sustainable environmental development in the Town Square will provide a revitalized setting to host public concerts, events, and activities. The annual Dvořák Nelahozeves Festival, which takes place at Nelahozeves Castle, the Birth House, and around the Town Square every September, will also continue its longstanding tradition.