Tributes to Antonin Dvorak

The week-end celebrations commemorating the famous Czech composer Antonin Dvorak on the one hundredth anniversary of his death culminated on Sunday with a series of concerts in Prague. At five different venues, four of Prague's best orchestras and a number of soloists pay homage to Antonin Dvorak, who died on May 1, 1904, at the age of 62 years.

An exhibition in Prague's Rudolfinum Gallery also celebrates the life and works of the Czech composer, giving visitors the one-time opportunity to view the original score of Dvorak's New World Symphony on Sunday. The manuscript is usually stored in a safe. Dvorak, whose music has reached many, partly thanks to his incorporation of folk music into his works, wrote his "New World Symphony" (Symphony No. 9: From the New World) in the United States. Many classical music lovers argue it is his most recognizable work.

Prague's Municipal House also opened an exhibition on Sunday called the Sacred Works of Antonin Dvorak, featuring him as a Christian and the author of spiritual works. The exhibition is part of the "Tribute to Antonín Dvo"ák 2004" project and was launched by a concert featuring his Stabat Mater called "Dvo"ák Spiritual", which will be held in Smetana Hall. Among the main exhibits are several restored original music scores, both handwritten sketches and finalized versions. Other exhibits include the first editions of some of Dvo"ák's works published by Simrock in Berlin and Novello in London, examples of his correspondence, reviews, period photographs and pieces of art illustrating the spiritual climate of the period. The exhibition is under the patronage of Catholic Church Primate and Prague Archbishop, Cardinal Miloslav Vlk.