About this episode

The episode explores Antonín Dvořák's musical journey and influences through a conversation with Eric Zivian and Rose Nellis.

Antonín Dvořák traveled from Bohemia to Vienna, England, Russia and the United States—and the people, places and musical traditions he encountered helped shape his work. Valley of the Moon Music Festival co-founder and artistic director Eric Zivian returns to the Sonoma Spiel with viola player Rose Nellis of the Amizia Quartet. Together, they preview “Postcards from Dvořák,” a festival season inspired by the composer’s travels around the world. Eric explains how Dvořák rose from modest beginnings in Bohemia to become an internationally celebrated composer. His curiosity led him to explore music from many cultures, including African American spirituals and Native American musical traditions during his time in the United States. Rose shares what life is like as a professional chamber musician, how the internationally based Amizia Quartet rehearses and travels together, and why the viola occupies such an important place inside a string quartet. She also answers a surprisingly complicated question: Is a viola simply a large violin, or is a violin an undersized viola? One of Rose’s favorite descriptions compares a string quartet to a bottle of wine: The first violin is the label, the…

People in this episode

Guests: Eric Zivian, Rose Nellis

Topics covered

• Dvořák's travels
• chamber music
• cultural influences
• music history
• string instruments

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Valley of the Moon Music Festival, Amizia Quartet

Books & works: Prelude from Bach’s Cello Suite No. 3

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