Antonín Leopold Dvořák (September 1841 – May 1904) was one of the first Czech composers to achieve worldwide recognition. He frequently used rhythms and other aspects of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. His style has been described by the The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians as "the fullest recreation of a national idiom with that of the

Although initially unknown outside of his native country, Dvořák entered competitions for the Austrian State Prize, winning three out of four years between 1874 and 1877. String Quintet No. 2 in G Major was composed during this time. Other important works written in the 1870s and 1880s included Slavonic Dances, Moravian Duets, Hungarian Dances, Violin Concerto in A Minor, Symphony No. 6, and Symphony No. 7, which was commissioned by the London Philharmonic Society and premiered in 1885 at St. James’ Hall. In 1890–91, he wrote the Dumky Trio, his most successful chamber music piece.

In 1892, Dvořák moved to the United States and became the director of the National Conservatory of Music in the New York. While in the U.S, he wrote his two most successful orchestral works: the symphony From the New World, which spread his reputation worldwide, and his highly regarded Cello Concerto.

After his return to Bohemia in 1895, he completed his string quartets in A-flat major and G major, and also worked on the cycle of symphonic poems inspired by the collection Kytice by Karel Jaromír Erben. He served as director of the Prague Conservatory from November 1901 until his death

Most of Dvořák's nine operas have librettos in Czech and were intended to convey the Czech national spirit. The most successful opera, Rusalka, is in the standard repertoire.