In Dvorak, there exists this
“ray of sunshine”, for his
entire vision of the world,
and all his music, are based
on his belief in the beauty of
life, and on his acceptance
of the universe in
thankfulness and joy. 
 

--Michael Hoffman

Dvorak was son of an innkeeper and worked his way up to become an award-winning, commercially successful composer. He was married and raised several children, some of whom died young. He kept pigeons as pets, enjoyed watching trains and steamships, as well as walking in the woods, where the song of a bird might inspire a melody in him. During his lifetime, his music was loved both in and outside his native Czechoslovakia, in Europe, England, and in America. In America, he accepted a position to live, teach, and write music in New York City during the last few years of the 19th century, where he met people like Mark Twain, Alexander Graham Bell, and likely a fellow Slovakian genius, Nichola Tesla.

Dvorak wrote enough music to last a lifetime. And we can listen to it for countless lifetimes. He was "a sunburst of sound", his was a "symphony of triumph". His was a world of benevolence, enchantment, and adventure.

Although in the course of his Antonín Dvořák's lifetime (* 8 Sept 1841 - † 1 May 1904), his compositions were included in the concert programs of renowned orchestras and concert halls in Europe, North America and Australia, even at the height of his fame Dvořák considered himself to be first and foremnost a Czech.

He returned to Prague from his numerous successful trips abroad; in Prague he was actively involved in major institutions like the Conservatory or the Royal Czech Society of Sciences, and he played a leading role in the establishment of the Czech Philharmonic. Dvořák conducted the orchestra's first concert on 4 January 1896.

We firmly believe that the topics of Antonín Dvořák & Prague and Dvořák & Central Bohemia are subjects with an international context, yet at the same time is absolutely Czech.

Dvořák moved to Prague in 1857, when he started to study music at Organ School and played the violin in the Cecilia Society, Karel Komzák's band and the orchestra of the Provisional Theater. In 1871 he dedicated himself solely to composing.

Although the bases of his artistic and family life were in Prague - from 1877 till the end of his life he lived at Žitná street no. 14 with his large family whom he loved over all else - Dvořák belongs to all of Central Bohemia. He was born in Nelahozeves, a village near Kralupy nad Vltavou, on 8 September 1841; in Zlonice he undertook an apprenticeship as a butcher and acquired a musical education from his teacher, Antonín Liehmann; Dvořák found his second home in Vysoká u Příbrami, where he spent his summers.