Josef Suk

Josef Suk was born on January 4, 1874, in Křečovice. Studying under Antonín Dvořák at the Prague Conservatory, Suk married Dvořák's beloved daughter Otýlie in 1898, composing lyrical masterpieces such as the Serenade for Strings.

Tragedy struck in 1904–1905 when both Antonín Dvořák and Otýlie died within fourteen months of each other. Channelling his grief into transcendent art, Suk composed his magnum opus, the colossal Asrael Symphony (Op. 27), named after the Angel of Death. Serving as rector of the Prague Conservatory, he trained Bohuslav Martinů.