The world premiere of Jan Zábrana’s poems set to music by award-winning composer and pianist Martin Brunner accompanied by acclaimed singer Markéta Foukalová.
Tuesday, May 27, 7:00 PM | concert of Markéta Foukalová and Martin Brunner + discussion | REGISTER
Performed in Czech and English. Followed by a discussion on Jan Zábrana led by professor Chris Harwood of Columbia University.
As part of the Rehearsal for Truth theater festival we invite you to a world premiere of Jan Zábrana’s poetry set to music by acclaimed composer and pianist Martin Brunner. He will be joined by Markéta Foukalová, the lead singer of Lanugo and former member of Hudba Praha and Jasná Páka. Alongside Zábrana’s evocative verse, the duo will perform songs from the repertoire of Havel’s beloved Hudba Praha, reimagined for piano and voice in honor of the anniversary of Václav Havel’s passing. In the second half of the evening, they will present selections from their album Svou chvíli, which earned Markéta a nomination in the broader category of Female Artist of the Year at the Anděl Awards.
Martin Brunner is a composer, pianist, and keyboardist known for his distinctive voice in contemporary jazz. In his authorial projects, he collaborates with leading figures of the Czech jazz scene, and is widely recognized as one of the most progressive composers of his generation. He has released five critically acclaimed albums under his own name, showcasing his evolving musical vision. Beyond jazz, Brunner composes for the award-winning Concept Art Orchestra as well as classical chamber ensembles. In 2023, the Hradec Králové Philharmonic commissioned him to write a piano concerto to mark the city’s 800th anniversary, with pianist Slávka Vernerová premiering the work. As a versatile sideman, he occasionally appears in projects that cross genre boundaries, contributing his unique sensibility to a wide range of musical collaborations.
Markéta Foukalová is a versatile singer whose work spans musical and lyrical creation, moving fluidly across genres—from pop and jazz to electronic and contemporary classical music. Her distinctive voice and artistic sensitivity have made her a sought-after collaborator among leading figures of the Czech music scene, including legendary guitarist Michal Pavlíček, Michal Prokop, the iconic bands Jasná Páka and Hudba Praha, and many others. She is the frontwoman of Lanugo, her long-time band currently working on its fifth album. In addition to her performing career, Foukalová teaches voice at the conservatory and leads the acclaimed children's choir Beznot, known for its creative and vibrant approach to music.
