Making History: “New World” Symphony Manuscript in BNH
Original manuscript of Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, "From the New World", by Czech composer Antonin Dvorak. Photo courtesy of Czech Center New York.
Czech Ambassador Petr Gandalovic (center behind glass) and distinguished guests view the original manuscript of the "New World" Symphony by Czech composer Antonin Dvorak, at Czech Center New York, November 2014. Photo courtesy of Czech Center New York.
By Majda Kallab Whitaker | As a center of Czech culture and government, the historic Bohemian National Hall was recently the proud venue of a historic exhibition celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution in the Czech Republic. To mark this occasion, the original manuscript the "New World" Symphony, composed by Czech composer Antonin Dvorak in New York City in 1893, was placed on public view for five days in November 2014.
This was the first time the manuscript, considered a national treasure, had left the Czech Republic since Dvorak returned home in 1895, following his influential American residency as the Director of the National Conservatory of Music of America. The score was reunited with the original orchestral parts created for the world premiere by the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall in December 1893, and lectures and musical performances were presented.
This event was sponsored by the Bohemian Benevolent & Literary Association, Consulate General of the Czech Republic, Czech Center New York, Czech Ministry of Culture, Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Czech National Museum, Czech Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Czech Philharmonic, Dvorak American Heritage Association, and New York Philharmonic Archives.
Antonin Dvorak III, grandson of the composer, visits the Dvorak Room with Dvorak American Heritage Association President Susan Lucak.
Czech conductor Jiri Belohlavek meets the press at the opening of “The New World Symphony Back in the New World.”
Majda Kallab Whitaker is an independent scholar and curatorial consultant, and as a Board Member of the Dvorak American Heritage Association, acts as project director of the Dvorak Room in the Bohemian National Hall. A graduate of Bard Graduate Center and Vassar College, she curates exhibitions and lectures on subjects related to late nineteenth and early twentieth century cultural and design history. She was born in Prague, and recently joined the Board of BBLA.