Born on March 2, 1824, in the picturesque town of Litomyšl, Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic), Bedřich Smetana displayed a prodigious musical talent from a young age. His father, an amateur violinist, recognized his son's potential and provided him with early musical education. Smetana's remarkable abilities on the piano and violin quickly became apparent, and it was clear that his future lay in music.