Although a follower of Wagner's reforms of the operatic genre, which he believed would be its salvation, Smetana rejected accusations of excessive Wagnerism, claiming that he was sufficiently occupied with "Smetanism, for that is the only honest style!"
Selv om han var tilhænger af Wagners reformer, som han mente ville være operaens redning, afviste Smetana beskyldninger om overdreven wagnerianisme og hævdede, at han gik tilstrækkeligt op i "smetanisme, for det er den eneste ærlige stil!"