Bedřich Smetana Bedřich Smetana Bedřich Smetana (; 2 March 1824 – 12 May 1884) was a Czech composer who pioneered the development of a musical style that became closely identified with his country's aspirations to independent statehood. He has been regarded in his homeland as the father of Czech music. Internationally he is best known for his opera "The Bartered Bride" and for the symphonic cycle "Má vlast" ("My Homeland"), which portrays the history, legends and landscape of the composer's native country and contains the famous symphonic poem "The Moldau". Smetana was naturally gifted as a composer, and gave his first public
Czech Republic in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 musician Michael Kocáb, composer and producer Jan Maxián and composer and 2015 Czech Eurovision entrant Václav Noid Bárta. "I Stand", which was written by the Swedish and Irish trio Christian Schneider, Sara Biglert and Aidan O'Connor, was one of three songs shortlisted by the jury and broadcaster from over forty proposals that the broadcaster received. The song was originally submitted to the Czech broadcaster as a proposal with singer Dasha as the performer; Dasha had been reported earlier in January as a shortlisted artist. The song was presented to the public via the release of the official music video, directed