Remarks
At the foot of the Charles Bridge Tower that keeps Stare Mesto, a neo-Renaissance building from the late 19C, previously home of industry or government and decorated in pretty sgraffito, has since 1936 housed a museum dedicated to the «father of Czech music,» Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884). Like many museums of its kind, one does not find the soul of the artists here; indeed he never visited this place! There are of course objects relating to his art - instruments, scores and various documents - and his story can be followed here, from his family brewery to his worldwide fame, with his Swedish exile at the head of the Gothenburg orchestra. Nothing, then, that really evokes his symphonic talent (the Ma Vlast suite which includes the famous Moldau, The Meadows and Woods of Bohemia) and his lyrical works ( Libuse, The Sold Fiancée or Dalibor). A shame, for this composer knew how to harmoniously link the patriotism of his people with international musical form.