In 1891, Antonin Dvorak was invited to the United States to become director of the National Conservatory of Music of America. Located in New York and founded by the wealthy philanthropist Jeannette Thurber, the National Conservatory was searching for a blockbuster hire to lead the institution in fostering a “distinctly American musical sound.” Dvorak was the target.
Signing one of Europe’s foremost composers was no easy task, especially in the case of the deeply patriotic, soil-bound Dvorak. Yet with an extravagant annual contract of $15,000, the deal was too good to refuse. Dvorak left for America, initiating a fruitful cultural exchange and one of the most productive periods of his career.
