Václav Smetáček

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The Prague Wind Quintet 1931 with Václav Smetáček on oboe
Václav Smetáček's tomb

Václav Smetáček (born June 30, 1906 in Brno , † February 18, 1986 in Prague ) was a Czech conductor, composer and oboist. Smetáček studied piano, oboe, music theory and orchestral conducting at the Prague Conservatory from 1922 . His oboe teacher there was Ladislav Skuhrovsky . Further studies at Charles University in Prague followed from 1928 to 1932 . In 1928, with colleagues from the conservatory, he founded the Prague Wind Quintet, for which he also composed and arranged, and of which he remained a member until 1960.

In 1930 Smetáček joined the Czech Philharmonic as an oboist . After completing his military service, he worked for the Czech Radio from 1934 to 1943 as a conductor and music editor. In 1942 he took over the direction of the Prague Symphony Orchestra . As its conductor, he was particularly committed to Slavic music and works of the 20th century, but was also rediscovering works such as the Oboe Concerto op. 37 by Franz Krommer or symphonies by Josef Mysliveček . On trips abroad he also made a name for himself as an opera conductor. Since 1945 he has also taught as a professor at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague . He was buried in the Vyšehrad cemetery in Prague.

Smetáček's compositions include, in particular, etudes and textbooks for oboe, but also music for wind quintet , such as the suite From the Lives of Insects , published in 1932 .

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personal data
SURNAME Smetáček, Václav
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Czech conductor, composer and oboist
DATE OF BIRTH June 30, 1906
PLACE OF BIRTH Brno
DATE OF DEATH February 18, 1986
Place of death Prague