(* March 2, 1824 - † May 12, 1884) Musical genius, piano virtuoso, patriot, and founder of Czech modern music. For this native of Litomyšl, music was everything. He composed his first song at the age of six. Smetana's masterpieces include the opera The Bartered Bride and a cycle of six symphonic poems, My Homeland, which was written when he was completely deaf.
