Hej Romale - Ida Kelarová and Čhavorenge

ABOUT THE CONCERT

Don't miss this torrent of spirited Romani songs - including the lively Czárdás - that are both traditional and contemporary but above all beautiful, performed by the Čhavorenge children's choir led by Ida Kelarová along with their own composer Desiderius Dužda, a jazz trio, and musicians of the Czech Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.

Colloboration continues for a jubilee 10th year between the Czech Philharmonic, Ida Kelarová, and the Čhavorenge children's choir to support (not only) Romani children and young people find their way to music.

So far, our joint efforts have resulted in a hundred concerts in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, including the Open Air Concert of the Czech Philharmonic on Hradčany Square under the baton of Jiří Bělohlavek, close collaboration with Martha Issová and Alice Nellis, the joint CD titled HEJ ROMALE, hundreds of workshops, and above all influnce on the lives of dozens of Romani children and youths. They find a connection to their own culture, experience the feeling of true confidence, and discover ways of life that differ from the ones they are faced with because of often negative circumstances.

We have presented the joint project Romano drom (The Romani Way) at concerts and workshops in Belfast (Northern Ireland), and we have gone on tour to London. We have appeared in concert at the Czech festival Smetana's Litomyšl and the Slovak festival Pohoda. In 2019, 2021, and 2022 children from Čhavorenge took part with other musicians in concerts to celebrate International Romani Day on 8 April. Through a Czech Television programme, they have reached tens of thousands of viewers.

"Čhavorenge are my stars", says Ida Kelarová. "They are a great hope for all of the other children that thez might rise so high… At first it was a way out of the ghettos, but now it is a way leading out into the world. And it is amazing to see when someone like Dominik - a boy from a Slovak ghetto - gets up and sings a solo in London in front of a big audience. Before your eyes, you see the shack he lives in, where there is no toilet or running water. That's powerful."

Performers

Čhavorenge Children's Choir

Ida Kelarová choirmaster, vocals

Desiderius Dužda guitar, vocal

Ondrej Krajňák piano

Marian Ševčík drums

Tomáš Baroš double bass

Musicians of the Czech (Youth) Philharmonic