Antonín Leopold Dvo?ák (Czech: Antonín Leopold Dvo?ák MFA: [?anto?i?n ?l?opolt ?dvor?a?k] Audio pronunciation file) (September 8, 1841 - May 1, 1904) was a Czech composer and conductor of the Romantic era, following Bed?ich Smetana, he developed national traditions and established the world significance of Czech music and Czech music school. Dvo?ák's works, which often feature motifs and elements of Moravian and Bohemian folk music, are distinguished by their melodiousness, richness, variety of rhythm and harmony, colorful instrumentation, and slenderness of form. Dvo?ák's most famous works include Stabat Mater (1877), "Slavic Dances" (1878, 1886), Requiem (1890), Symphony No. 9 "From the New World" (1893), "American" String Quartet (1893), Concerto for cello and orchestra (1895) and the opera "The Little Mermaid" (1900).

Along with Bed?ich Smetana, Antonín Dvo?ák is considered a leading representative of the Czech school of composers. His creative heritage covers various genres - symphonies (the most famous is E minor "From the New World" op. 95, 1893), string quartet, operas (the most famous is "The Little Mermaid"), symphonic poems, songs, masses, piano works and instrumental concerts, in particular, the most famous is the cello concerto in B minor op.103, about which J. Brahms wrote the following: "If I had known that the cello was capable of such things, I would have written this concerto myself."

Dvo?ák made extensive use of genre and rhythm-intonation features of Czech and Moravian musical folklore. Features of national identity were revealed in the comic opera "The King and the Coal", the patriotic anthem "The Heirs of White Mountain" for choir and orchestra, and the vocal "Moravian Duets"; a particularly vivid national character can be felt in "Slavic Dances" (first for piano 4 hands, later for orchestra, and other instruments) and "Slavic Rhapsodies".

A number of Dvo?ák's works are devoted to the historical past of the Czech Republic and the national liberation aspirations of the people; among them are the oratorio "Saint Lyudmila", "Hussite Overture", music for drama theater performances, including the play "Josef Caetan Till". Dvo?ák's operas, along with B. Smetana's operas, form the basis of the national music and theater repertoire.

The most valuable contribution to the world musical culture are Dvo?ák's symphonies, which laid the foundation of the national symphony, a cello concerto with an orchestra, and chamber-instrumental works (the "Thoughts" trio). Many of Dvo?ák's works are attractive with cheerfulness, warm lyricism, soft humor, and reflect pictures of Czech nature and everyday life. The unique world of Czech fairy tales and legends is revealed in the symphonic poems "Water", "Half-Star", etc.

In Prague, there is a society and a museum named after him (since 1932). In Nelagozeves, a museum is also open in the house where Dvo?ák was born. One of the Prague quartets bears Dvo?ák's name.