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Antonín Dvořák was a Czech composer, one of the leading figures of Romantic music and a pivotal force in developing a national Czech musical style, later achieving immense international fame. Born near Prague in 1841, Dvořák initially pursued a career as a violist. Encouraged by Johannes Brahms, he gained recognition in the 1870s. His fame soared internationally in the 1880s-1890s, leading to directorships at the National Conservatory of Music in New York (1892-1895) and later the Prague Conservatory. He masterfully blended Bohemian folk elements with classical forms, composing symphonies, concertos, operas, chamber music, and choral works.

• Dvořák was nearly named 'Anton' after his father, but the local priest insisted on 'Antonín' during baptism, a name his father reportedly disliked.
• He experienced profound personal tragedy: only three of his nine children survived into adulthood, including his infant daughter Josefa (died 1876), 11-month-old Ruzena (died 1877 after accidentally drinking phosphorus), and 2-year-old Otakar (died 1877 from smallpox), all dying within less than two years.
• Contrary to persistent myth, Dvořák never claimed his Symphony No. 9 "From the New World" used actual Native American or African American melodies. He stated he used the spirit and character of these musical traditions to create original themes. The manuscript's discovery in 2005 confirmed he wrote it entirely in New York.