Bedřich Smetana: A selection of famous and representative works!

Bedřich Smetana was a Czech composer, conductor, and pianist.

He is called the “father of Czech music” as the first composer to write music that expressed Czech identity, and he produced many works.

Among them, many of you may know “The Moldau” from his cycle “Má vlast” (My Homeland).

In this article, we introduce Smetana’s masterpieces and signature works.

From opera to chamber music to piano pieces, there are many works across genres through which you can feel Czech music—be sure to check them out!

Playlist

Bedřich Smetana: A selection of famous and representative works!
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Overture from the opera “The Bartered Bride”Bedřich Smetana		A masterpiece of Czech music, captivating with its folk dance
2	Dance of the Comedians, Act 3 from the opera The Bartered BrideBedřich Smetana		A representative work of Smetana’s lively instrumental music
3	From Slavonic Dances, Series II: No. 1 and No. 8Bedřich Smetana		Introduction of the performance program for Czech Dances
4	Op. 8 No. 2 from Three Poetic PolkasBedřich Smetana		Piano piece, a fusion of polka and romance
5	From ‘Má vlast’: No. 1 ‘Vyšehrad’Bedřich Smetana		A grand musical work themed on the ancient castle of Prague
6	Vltava (The Moldau), No. 2 from Má vlast (My Homeland)Bedřich Smetana		A masterpiece that expresses the flow of the Vltava River through music
7	From ‘Má vlast’ — No. 4: ‘From Bohemia’s Woods and Fields’Bedřich Smetana		A symphonic poem expressing Czech nature through a polka
8	From ‘Má vlast’, No. 5 ‘Tábor’Bedřich Smetana		My Homeland No. 5, depicting the Hussite battles
9	Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 15Bedřich Smetana		A masterpiece of sorrow and hope composed by Smetana in mourning for his eldest daughter’s death
10	Symphony of Victory in E major, Op. 6Bedřich Smetana		Smetana’s only symphonic work
11	String Quartet No. 1 in E minor, “From My Life”Bedřich Smetana		A string quartet that expresses Smetana’s life through music
12	First piece from Three Album LeavesBedřich Smetana		Collection of musical works by Schumann and others
13	Three Salon-Style Polkas, Op. 7Bedřich Smetana		Smetana’s Collection of Polka Miniatures
14	Šárka, the third movement from My HomelandBedřich Smetana		A musical work depicting Shalqa’s revenge
15	From ‘Má vlast’ — No. 6 ‘Blaník’Bedřich Smetana		Smetana’s piece “Blaník Mountain”
16	Memories of Bohemia in Polka Form, Op. 12 No. 1Bedřich Smetana		A piano piece that fuses Czech folk music and Romanticism
17	String Quartet No. 2 in D minorBedřich Smetana		Emotional expression under Smetana’s hearing impairment
18	Fantasia on a Czech Folk SongBedřich Smetana		Introduction to a performance of Fantasia on Czech Folk Songs
19	Symphonic Poem “Wallenstein’s Camp,” Op. 14Bedřich Smetana		A Czech symphonic poem. Smetana’s masterpiece.
20	From the opera “The Bartered Bride,” Act II: “Duet of Kecal and Jeník”Bedřich Smetana		Duet of the Sold Bride
21	Symphonic Poem ‘My Homeland’ — The MoldauBedrich Smetana		The famous piece Vltava by the Czech composer Smetana
22	Concert Etude “By the Seashore”Bedřich Smetana		Smetana’s Concert Etude for Piano
23	Dreams – Six Character VignettesBedřich Smetana		Six Piano Pieces on Bohemian Themes
24	Mirada’s aria from the opera DaliborBedřich Smetana		Aria of Dalibor's Milada
25	Overture from the opera “Libuše”Bedřich Smetana		Ribche Overture, Prague Premiere
26	From the opera Libuše, Act III: Finale, Libuše’s AriaBedřich Smetana		The Prophecy of the Czech Legendary Woman Libuše
27	Overture from the opera “The Kiss”Bedřich Smetana		Overture performance of the opera 'The Kiss'
28	The Moldau – From My HomelandBedrich Smetana		The famous symphonic poem “The Moldau,” which depicts Czech landscapes
29	My Homeland, No. 1: The High CastleBedrich Smetana		The beauty of Smetana’s symphonic poem “Vyšehrad” (The High Castle)
30	“The Moldau” from “Má vlast”Bedrich Smetana		A beautiful classic song that depicts the river in Prague
31	Vltava (Moldau)Bedrich Smetana		A Czech masterpiece imbued with Smetana’s patriotism
32	Symphonic Poem “Má vlast” No. 2 “Vltava (The Moldau)”Bedrich Smetana		A Czech masterpiece: music that depicts the life of a river
33	From the symphonic poem cycle My Fatherland, No. 2: The MoldauBedrich Smetana		Smetana’s “Má vlast” by the Czech composer
34	Symphonic Poem “The Moldau” from My HomelandBedrich Smetana		Masterpieces of classical music that enhance concentration
35	Two Polkas: From Memories of Bohemia in the form of a Polka, Op. 12-2; and From Three Salon Polkas, Op. 7-2Bedřich Smetana		Introduction to a performance of a Bohemian polka piece
36	Fragment of a Sonata, Movement I, and Rondo of Youth for Two Pianos, Eight HandsBedřich Smetana		Two musical pieces performed by four pianos
37	Opera “Brandenburgers of Bohemia” – Our time has comeBedřich Smetana		The battle to drive the Brandenburg army out of Prague
38	Smetana: The Bartered Bride Overture / Israel Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by István KertészBedrich Smetana		Overture to Smetana's opera “The Bartered Bride”