Bedřich Smetana - Piano Works (Bogang Hwang)

Information

Composer: Bedřich Smetana

• Piano Sonata in G Minor, JB 3:24
• České tance, Book I, JB 1:107
• České tance, Book II, JB 1:114

Bogang Hwang, piano

Date: 2026

Label: Naxos

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Bedřich Smetana, widely celebrated as the father of Czech music, pioneered a distinct national style that famously culminated in his symphonic cycle Má vlast. This program highlights his final major piano compositions, the Czech Dances, remarkably written after he had lost his hearing. In Book 1, Smetana masterfully elevates the traditional polka with the same artistry Chopin applied to the mazurka, while Book 2 draws vivid inspiration from regional Moravian and Bohemian folk dances. The collection also features the Piano Sonata in G minor, a piece distinguished by its Lisztian harmonic richness, expressive Romanticism, and spirited good humor.

South Korean pianist Bogang Hwang began her distinguished training at Sunhwa Arts High School—winning three consecutive excellence performance awards—and Seoul National University under Ick-Choo Moon, before continuing her studies with Fabio Bidini at the Colburn School Conservatory of Music. An accomplished soloist and competitor in events such as the Queen Elisabeth Competition, Hwang made high-profile debuts at Walt Disney Concert Hall with the Colburn Orchestra and with the Pasadena Symphony. As a dedicated chamber artist, she co-founded the award-winning ensemble Sonarsix and Trio Caspar, maintaining an active concert presence across major international festivals, including Ravinia and Norfolk.