Alena Antalová and the great return of chanson to Brno City Theatre

9 January 2025, 1:00
Alena Antalová and the great return of chanson to Brno City Theatre

Antalová and Alex Anders are preparing an evening of chanson. The MdB actress and singer will be performing together with composer, lyricist, performer and pianist Alex Anders (real name Alexandr Špunda) on the drama stage of Brno City Theatre.

Anders writes, composes and sings his own chansons and accompanies himself on the piano, continuing the tradition of Czech chanson and building on the legacy of Hana Hegerová, Petr Hapka and Michal Horáček. He spent a long time searching for a performer to join him before finding Alena Antalová, and since then they've formed a new musical chanson duo and perform together.

Anders worked abroad for thirty years as a pianist, playing for luminaries such as Queen Elizabeth II of England, Dustin Hoffman and many others.

Alena Antalová says this of their work together: "I take my encounter with Alex's work as a certain gift from life, this time a professional one. Even though I'm a fatalist, I myself have always been constantly surprised by what his music and lyrics awaken in me..." And Alex Anders backs this up: "I spent ages looking for someone to sing my chansons. I thank fate for sending Alena my way. She's a woman with a big heart and soul, and she has a beautiful voice."

In fact, visitors to the 2023 Dokořán musical theatre festival, where they performed their songs as part of the accompanying programme at the MdB Dvorana, also had the chance to hear samples of their work. In January 2025, their chanson recital will be hosted by the home stage of actress Alena Antalová, who has long been an important member of Brno City Theatre's acting ensemble. The concert, entitled simply OR, will be directed by Petr Gazdík and will take place on Saturday, 11 January 2025 at 7:00 p.m. on Brno City Theatre's Drama Stage.

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