Antonín Dvořák Family Tree: The Story Behind the New World Symphony

Antonín Leopold Dvořák (1841–1904), born 8 September 1841 in Nelahozeves, Bohemia (Austrian Empire), and died 1 May 1904 in Prague, was Bohemia's most-influential Romantic composer — 9 symphonies including "From the New World" (No. 9, 1893, composed in NYC), Slavonic Dances, Cello Concerto in B minor (1895), 10 operas including Rusalka (1901); Director of the National Conservatory of Music, NYC 1892-1895.

The Family's Roots: A Bohemian Village Family

Father was butcher/innkeeper; 14 children — 6 survived infancy.

His Parents

Father: František Dvořák (1814–1894) — village butcher, innkeeper, zither player.

Mother: Anna Zdeňka Dvořák (1820–1882).

His Siblings

Dvořák was eldest of 14 — only 6 survived infancy.

His Wife: Anna Čermáková

Anna Čermáková Dvořák (1854–1931) — married Antonín on 17 November 1873. Sister of Josefina (whom Dvořák had loved first).

Their 9 Children (3 died in infancy)

Otakar (1874 — died); Josefa (1875 — died); Růžena (1876 — died); Otilie Čermáková-Suk (1878–1905) — married Josef Suk; Anna (1880–1923); Magdalena (1881–1952); Antonín (1883–1956); Otakar (1885–1961); Aloisie (1888–1967).

The Dvořák Family Tree at a Glance

Father: František Dvořák (1814–1894) — butcher/innkeeper.

Mother: Anna Zdeňka Dvořák (1820–1882).

Siblings: 13 (Dvořák was eldest of 14; 6 survived).

Wife: Anna Čermáková (1854–1931; m. 17 November 1873).

Children: 9 (3 died in infancy). Surviving: Otilie (1878–1905) — m. composer Josef Suk; Anna (1880–1923); Magdalena (1881–1952); Antonín (1883–1956); Otakar (1885–1961); Aloisie (1888–1967).

Son-in-Law: Josef Suk (1874–1935) — composer.

Dvořák:

  • Born 8 September 1841, Nelahozeves
  • Organ School Prague 1857-1859
  • Kapellmeister at St Adalbert's Prague 1873
  • Brahms championed him from 1877
  • National Conservatory of Music, New York: Director 1892-1895
  • Symphony No. 9 "From the New World" premiered 16 December 1893 at Carnegie Hall
  • Died: 1 May 1904, Prague — kidney failure at 62

What the Dvořák Family Story Teaches Us

A butcher-innkeeper father. Eldest of 14 (6 survived). A wife of 31 years. 9 children — 3 died in infancy. A daughter married Czech composer Josef Suk. A career that composed the New World Symphony in NYC and returned to Bohemia to write Rusalka.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Dvořák story carries the same lesson. Some careers travel from a Bohemian butcher's family to a NYC premiere at Carnegie Hall.

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