Bedřich Smetana was a Czech composer celebrated as the father of Czech music and a key figure in shaping a national musical identity during the 19th century. He is best known internationally for his comic opera The Bartered Bride and the symphonic cycle Má vlast, particularly the iconic movement Vltava, which vividly evokes the landscapes and legends of Bohemia. Smetana’s early promise as a musician was evident from childhood, leading to studies in Prague and early works inspired by nationalism during the revolutionary atmosphere of 1848. After a period in Sweden as a teacher and conductor, he returned to Prague, where he played a central role in developing Czech opera despite facing opposition from more conservative musicians. In his later years, Smetana composed many of his most important works after losing his hearing. Though his influence in Czech music remains profound, only a few of his works are widely performed internationally, with Antonín Dvořák often remembered as his most prominent successor.