Dvorak's "Stabat Mater" is a work deeply inspired by personal tragedy in the composer's life. Originally sketched between February and May of 1876 as a delayed response to the death of his daughter Josefa, the work was not completed in definitive form until late 1877, in the wake of the passing of two other children (daughter Ruzena and son Otakar). The work was finally premiered on 23 December 1880 in Prague, with vocalists and chorus from the Czech Provisional Theatre conducted by Adolf Cech. The work was first published early the following year by Simrock of Berlin. The score reproduced here has been edited by Antonin Cubr and was first issued by the Czech State Publishing concern as part of the complete works of Dvorak in 1958. The large conductor score and orchestra parts to this excellent edition are now also available from Serenissima Music (97173).