Antonín Dvořák was one of the most influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His music is celebrated for its melodic richness, rhythmic vitality and harmonic inventiveness. He was also a prolific and versatile composer, who wrote in various genres and forms, from symphonies and operas to chamber music and songs. Here are seven curiosities about his life and work that you may not know.
1. He was born in a small village near Prague, where his father was a butcher and innkeeper. He learned to play the violin, organ and piano from an early age, and showed a natural talent for music. He also had a keen interest in nature and folklore, which influenced his later compositions.