Antonin Dvorak (1841–1904) made this neighborhood his home for a time. This bronze statue by Croatian-American sculptor Ivan Mestrovic (1883–1962) honors him. The green granite base was designed by Czech-American architect Jan Hird Pokorny. In 1963, this bronze portrait bust of Dvorak was given by the Czechoslovak National Council of America to the Philharmonic, but the orchestra never displayed it. (This bust is likely the last work of Mestrovic, a student of Rodin.) The sculpture was instead put on a rooftop terrace at Avery Fisher Hall, at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. There it suffered extensive damage. Dvorak's former house on East 17th Street was designated a city landmark in 1990, but the designation was rescinded. The house was demolished in 1991. As a result, the Dvorak American Heritage Association, with the New York Philharmonic and the Stuyvesant Park Neighborhood Association had it installed it in the park opposite the site of Dvorak's home. On Sept. 13, 1997, the effigy of Dvorak was unveiled. Several hundred spectators and numerous dignitaries, including Jan Koukal, Mayor of Prague, attended the dedication ceremony. It was followed by a Dvorak concert, performed by world-class musicians at nearby St. George's Church.
Antonin Dvorak
(b. 1841 Nelahozeves, (near) Prague – d. Bohemia 1904)
the son of an innkeeper, was an important composer who fused several musical traditions. He studied at the Organ School in Prague and with Antonin Liehmann. He became a viola player. Dvorak was a soloist with the Czech National Theatre Orchestra when it was founded in 1862. He was influenced by Beethoven, Schubert, Liszt and Wagner. Dvorak also drew inspiration from traditional Czech music.In 1873, his cantata 'Hymnus' was publicly performed, and that year, he married Anna Cermakova. An 1875 Austrian state grant brought Dvorak in contact with Johannes Brahms (1833-1897), who provided him with technical advice and connected him with publisher Fritz Simrock. For the next 15 years, Dvorak worked as a composer. In 1892, he was appointed director of the National Conservatory of Music in America (at a salary of $15,000 per year), and settled for three years in NYC at 327 East 17th Street. In America, he was influenced by African-American spiritual and Native American Indian music. Dvorak produced his 'Symphony #9, in E Minor,' better known as the New World Symphony (1893), during his time there. His students included Harry T. Burleigh, a prominent black baritone, (who sang at the nearby St. George Episcopal Church) and Amy Beach, the first important American female composer. Some of Dvorak's pupils would later teach Duke Ellington (1899-1974), Aaron Copland (1900-1990) and George Gershwin (1898-1937). In 1895, Dvorak returned to Bohemia and in 1901, he became director of the Prague Conservatory. In his final years, he composed two string quartets, five symphonic poems, and three operas. He was one of the most versatile composers of the 19th century. He died from a stroke.
St. George
(b. ? Palestine – d. circa 303)
a martyr, is the patron saint of England and Catalonia. He was a soldier, but resigned when Diocletian began to persecute Christians. He is known as the dragon slayer. The poisoned breath of a dragon terrorized the countryside. The locals had to appease the dragon with two sheep to keep it from attacking. When there were no more sheep, a local woman was chosen (the king's daughter) by lot to be sacrificed to the dragon.Instead of sacrificing her, George stuck a sword into the dragon and led it around as captive, using the girdle the king's daughter had worn as a harness. George told the locals that if they worshipped Christ, he would slay the dragon. They allowed themselves to be baptized, and George killed he dragon. He took no reward for his deed. The Emperors Diocletian and Maximian persecuted George, and he was beheaded. A fourth-century church dedicated to him at Constantinople is believed to have been built by Constantine. George is also the patron saint of soldiers and chivalry.
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