At the end 1884 Dvořák wrote to a friend: "Just now a new symphony occupies me, and wherever I go I think of nothing but my work, which must be capable of stirring the world, and God grant me that it will!"
Performed by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy
Vladimir Ashkenazy in rehearsal with the APO Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
If we have Balakirev to thank for setting Tchaikovsky on the path of the Romeo and Juliet Fantasy, then it's Brahms we must acknowledge for spurring Dvořák to his 7th Symphony.
Brahms was an influential figure for the Czech composer – aside from support and encouragement, he introduced Dvořák to Joseph Joachim for whom Dvořák composed his Violin Concerto. Brahms was also instrumental in getting his publisher, Fritz Simrock, to take the younger composer on.
Dvořák was also simply inspired by the music of Brahms and in early 1884 had been hugely excited by latter's 3rd Symphony.
With the music of Brahms in his ears, it was perfect timing that a commission came from the Royal Philharmonic Society. This is the sole symphony of Dvořák's that was written to commission, and it had snowballed from the huge success of the composer's Stabat Mater in the English Choral scene, which led to an invitation to conduct a series of London concerts where his 6th Symphony was also a hit.
Dvořák delivered a symphony of very different character to the No. 6 – and it maybe reflected some of his personal turmoil of the time. His mother, to whom he was very close, had died a couple of years before and Smetana, the trailblazer of Czech music was in alarming mental decline.
Dvořák was also wrestling with his next steps as a symphonist – to stick with the Czech national flavour or attempt a more 'international' style.
Dvořák conducted a triumphant premiere in early 1855 at St James's Hall in London.
Programme note by Kevin Keys
Recorded by RNZ in Auckland Town Hall, 12 September 2019
Producer: Tim Dodd, Sound engineer: Rangi Powick
