Jan Levoslav Bella

A student of his father, Jan, Dvorak and Egry, this Slovak composer wrote a number of sacred works. At about the age of 26 he was encouraged to pursue music full-time. He studied in Germany and Prague, met Smetana and made the acquaintance of many Romantic composers. His symphonic poem "Osud a ideal" was conducted by Richard Strauss (who became his friend) and he wrote the operas "Jaroslav," and "Wieland der Schmied." In the latter years of his life he composed cantatas and songs in an attempt to find a place in the musical world of the Czechoslovakian republic. ~ Keith Johnson