| Contents |
Smetana begins the story of his life -- Memories of student days -- First acquaintance with Chopin's works -- The end of studies in Prague -- Studies become an obstacle -- Music wins the upper hand -- Tutor to the house of Thun -- Smetana studies composition -- Smetana's first appearance as a concert pianist -- Smetana appeals to Franz Liszt for assistance -- Liszt's answer -- First important orchestral work -- Smetana's wedding -- The first happy years of marriage -- Clara Schumann to Smetana -- Smetana as a teacher -- First recital in Prague -- G minor trio -- Smetana seeks work abroad -- Goteborg -- Goteborg's response -- With Liszt in Weimar -- Smetana realises the significance of a 'national' artist -- His first symphonic poems -- Efforts to achieve "National" music -- Katerina Smetana seriously ill -- The death of Katerina on the journey home -- A retainer of the Smetana family remembers -- Smetana to his bride, Bettina Ferdinandi -- Goteborg raves about Smetana -- "My homeland means more to me than anything else" -- Smetana re-marries -- His longing for home increases -- The theatre - Smetana's great love -- Smetana to his wife, Bettina, from his concert tour -- The beginning of work in Prague -- Disagreements with Rieger -- Entries from Smetana's diary -- From Smetana's article "Shabby concert habits" -- Ferdinand Heller remembers -- Pianist to Ferdinand V. -- The emperor's taste in music -- The role of music and libretto in opera -- Smetana completes his first opera -- Afternoons at the Smetanas -- At the music institute -- Dancing as a pastime -- How "The Bartered Bride" was written -- A Shakespeare celebration -- Smetana as an adjudicator -- From Smetana's article on "music life in Prague" -- Opinions on the development of music -- Smetana on Beethoven -- Smetana's favourite opera -- The struggle for a steady job -- Smetana resigns his position as choirmaster of the Prague Hlahol society -- Liszt's friendship for Smetana -- "Souvenir de Boheme en forme de polkas" -- From the recollections of a retainer of the Smetana family -- Christmas at the Smetanas -- The completion of "The bartered bride" and the premiere of "The Brandenburgers" -- The Brandenburgers (II) -- The Brandenburgers (III) -- Jan Neruda in defence of Smetana -- Letter to Froejda Benecke in Goteborg -- Smetana's performance of Liszt's "St. Elisabeth" in Prague -- The Bartered Bride (I) -- The Bartered Bride (II) -- Karel Sabina's comments -- The Bartered Bride (III) -- Smetana hides from the Prussians -- Smetana is given the post of conductor -- Smetana and his orchestra -- Stanislav Moniuszko to Smetana -- The idea of "Vltava" is born -- The height of fame - the premiere of "Dalibor" -- The master's credo -- Dalibor (I) -- Dalibor (II) -- Smetana is reproached with Wagnerianism -- Smetana's comments on political events -- Smetana to Frantisek Neruda -- Moniuszko pays a visit to Smetana -- Extracts from Smetana's diary -- Smetana as the interpreter of Chopin and Liszt -- Smetana the pianist -- Otakar Hostinsky remembers -- "The bartered bride" is attacked -- Reminiscences of Smetana's youngest daughter -- "The bartered bride" in St. Petersburg (I) -- "The bartered bride" in St. Petersburg (II) -- Liszt visits Smetana in Prague -- Smetana performs a work of his contemporary, Richard Rozkosny -- Hans von Bulow and Smetana -- Smetana and Wagner -- The need for Czech music drama -- Wagner-Chopin-Liszt -- Smetana's greatest work completed -- A dramatic style of his own -- Excerpt from the proclamation of Czech musicians -- From Smetana's diary -- Creative criticism -- A kind chief (I) -- A kind chief (II) -- An incident at cards -- The attacks give rise to a new opera -- Entries from Smetana's diary -- Jan Levoslav Bella and Smetana -- Plans for a concert in Russia -- A concert pianist again -- Smetana returns to the piano -- Smetana's antagonists increase their attacks -- Premiere of "The two windows" -- Hans Richter on "The two widows" -- Smetana performs a symphony by the yet unknown Dvorak -- Concert performance of the overture to "Libuse" -- Smetana stops the overture to "The bartered bride" in the middle of the performance -- Approaching deafness -- Enforced idleness -- Smetana reports to the chairman of the theatre association -- Hallucinations -- Fate forces Smetana to resign -- The first symphonic poems of "My country" -- Deafness progresses -- A request for different terms -- Smetana fights for his health -- Not even Smetana's personal tragedy silences his antagonists -- Reminiscences of Leos Janacek -- Abroad in search of health -- A new attempt to find a cure -- Smetana on Wagner -- Smetana rejects "Revision" of his work -- A new opera - "The kiss" -- The new opera to be in "Smetana" style -- The librettist about the opera "The kiss" -- Smetana has to leave Prague -- About the premiere of "The kiss" -- The composer cannot hear a single note of his work -- The nation showers honours on Smetana -- The founder of a national music -- Smetana's doubts about the lasting success of "The kiss" -- The most beautiful passage in all Smetana's operas -- Characteristic unity of style -- In Jabkenice (I) -- In Jabkenice (II) -- Jabkenice (III) -- Song of the sea -- Polkas from the "Czech dances" -- Smetana longs to share his experiences with the younger generation -- Another new opera - "The secret" -- The struggle for existence -- The theatre stops Smetana's pay -- His faith in the ultimate success of "Dalibor" -- Difficult scenes in "The secret" -- The search for new themes -- Smetana is promised a new libretto -- The quartet "From my life" rejected -- Smetana's wish to give a tone-picture of his life -- Premiere of the quartet "From my life" -- Our country needs creative talent -- Smetana's music sent to Paris -- Smetana and Dvorak (I) -- Smetana and Dvorak (II) -- "The secret" completed -- Smetana demands a just return for his work -- Premiere of "The secret" -- Felix Mottl is interested in "The bartered bride" -- The composer's dilemma -- Why Smetana rejects "Ahasver" -- The birth of the "Czech dances" -- Polkas from the "Czech dances" and "Reves" -- Jan Neruda to Smetana -- The people must choose -- Every man must work for his country -- A great patriot -- Smetana respects sincerity -- Smetana and Karel Weis -- "The bartered bride" in the provinces -- Fifty years of public activity -- Smetana on his life and work -- Deafness -- Smetana's visits to Prague - his one pleasure -- Sight a substitute for hearing -- Smetana at a concert -- The reception of foreign artists -- Even deafness has its advantages -- Smetana does not lose his optimism -- Smetana at the "Umelecka beseda" -- Smetana talks and plays to his friends -- Smetana reminisces about Liszt -- The deaf pianist - the deaf master -- A further opera - "The devil's wall" -- Smetana's works are sent to London -- Smetana's pride -- Franz Liszt to Smetana -- "From my life" in Weimar -- Smetana's devotion to Liszt -- Smetana's demands on the conductor -- Smetana celebrations at Litomysl -- Smetana proud to be a Czech -- The choral work "Dedication" -- Smetana's recognition of others -- Truth in art -- Smetana on his own works -- "Libuse" calls for special treatment -- Rehearsals for "Libuse" -- Ovations at the rehearsal -- The artists are enthusiastic - the theatre management indifferent -- The ceremonial inauguration of the national theatre -- Smetana's dream comes true -- Smetana's regard for lay opinions -- His antagonists attempt to oust "Libuse" -- The fire at the national theatre -- The deaf master conducts his overture -- The audience shows its appreciation -- Deafness is no joke for a musician! -- Saint-Saens and Smetana -- "The two widows" in Hamburg -- Smetana's artistic integrity -- Smetana protests against attempts to degrade his work -- The creator of the Czech musical style -- A national composer -- The hundredth performance of "The bartered bride" (I) -- The hundredth performance of "The bartered bride" (II) -- The hundredth performance of "The bartered bride" (III) -- The composer's opinion of "The bartered bride" (I) -- The composer's opinion of "The bartered bride" (II) -- Even the director is enthusiastic -- "The bartered bride" belongs to the nation -- The "Devil's wall" completed -- Wilhelm Kienzl's admiration of Smetana -- Depression and anxiety -- Growing difficulties -- Wilhelm Kienzl and Smetana meet -- The failure of "The devil's wall" -- Smetana's short outline of the symphonic poems of "My country" -- Smetana's conception of "Tabor" -- "I have to write in this way" -- Smetana's greatest poetic achievement -- His thanks to the orchestra -- The "Smetana style" -- Originality in art -- Sickness attacks again -- No compromise -- Unbearable fate -- Libuse to be the Czech nation's symbol -- A glorious tableau -- Composing becomes an effort -- A ray of happiness -- The theatre's new attitude -- Smetana to F.A. Schubert -- No sound pierces the silence -- The verdict of the "Elite" -- Hallucinations -- A sad change -- The shadows gather -- The darkness -- Yet he struggles on -- Prague - for the last time -- The end -- The last journey -- The nation mourns -- Franz Liszt to Karel Navratil. |
