John Holland 
Lost Tradition of Dvorak’s Operas 
Myth, Music, and Nationalism

The Lost Tradition of Dvork’s Operas: Myth, Music, and Nationalism examines Antonn Dvork’s operas, specifically Jakobn and Rusalka, from a critical standpoint, focusing on such criteria as tonal structures, thematic material and motives, subject matter, Czech folklore and musical influences, textual language, nationalism, characters, compositional history, performance history, and reception. The intent of this research is to vindicate and validate Dvork as an opera composer; to show him to be an overlooked master in Nineteenth Century opera and the bridge between the Verdi and Wagner traditions. Now, well over one hundred years after his death, it is now time for Dvork to take his rightful place in the operatic echelon.