Concerts
Sunday,
28 May – 19:30
KHAMORO PARTY
Gauč na V´ystavišti
Let’s start the jubilee 25th Khamoro World Roma Festival with an open-air concert! We will meet at the Gauč in Stromovka venue. Fusions of Romani music, swing, Latino music, rock'n'roll and Balkan rhythms will certainly make you dance. Music by Feri (Czechia) and Kal (Serbia) will make you move, and you can also look forward to special guests – the Bengalofunk dance group (Czechia) with their top-class urban dance performance. So let’s have a party!
FERI / CZECHIA
KAL/ SERBIA
BENGALOFUNK/ CZECHIA
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Classical Romani songs in non-traditional rendition? The seductive and wild combination of traditional Romani music, swing, Latino and Balkan rhythms will enchant you. This is exactly what you can expect from the Czechia-based band Feri. They entice their audience with amazing singing, energetic rhythms and distinct flute sounds. Although the band was only set up recently, its musicians are no newbies. Its founder is the singer and guitar player Feri Barkoci who has had a rich music career.
Would a traditional Romani music from Balkan and rock'n'roll make a good match? Listen to this band to get the answer! Serbia-based Kal brings a brand-new music style that is described as “Rock 'n' Roma” by the band members. Their songs feature elements of jazz, blues, pop, swing as well as reggae and oriental influences. Founded in 1996, the band has played more than a thousand concerts all around the world. Their albums score in international world music charts – no wonder!
This dance show is unforgettable! Bengalofunk is a group consisting of prominent personalities of the Czech urban dance scene. This dance form combines a range of styles such as hip-hop, breakdance, popping, locking and house dance. Its members have won numerous dance battles and contests not only in Czechia, but also abroad. The band is led by Roman “Kalo“ Kejík, a professional dancer, choreographer and freestyler who has received several dance awards and teaches dance all over Europe.
Monday,
29 May – 19:00
NATAŠA TASIĆ KNEŽEVIĆ AND GUESTS Jerusalem Synagogue in Prague
Romani musicians and opera? Yes! Forget all prejudice. The Serbian National Theatre’s opera soprano, Nataša Tasić Knežević, together with the baritone Miro Bartoš and soprano Bohumila Sommerová – both from the J. K. Tyl Theatre in Pilsen – will show you that besides traditional songs, Romani performers can also do well with classical music. Accompanied by Ivan Herák’s violin quartet, they will perform in the marvellous interior of the Jerusalem Synagogue in Prague. This rare music experience will stay in your mind for a long time…
NATAŠA TASIĆ KNEŽEVIĆ / SERBIA
A singer with a crystal-clear and bright tone of voice. Although she initially studied traffic engineering, she never wanted to give up her true love – singing. She enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts in Belgrade – and this was a great decision. She scored in several international contests and in 2009, she won the third place at the Ibla Grand Prize Music Competition in Italy. As part of the Opera Studio within the National Theatre in Belgrade, she sang one of the main roles in Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni. Together with her husband, piano-player Saša Knežević, they travel and perform all over Europe.
MIRO BARTOŠ / CZECHIA
With his deep voice and enormous charisma, Miro Bartoš who graduated from classical singing at the Pilsen Conservatory may well be the most famous Romani opera singer in Czechia. He is a solo singer at the J. K. Tyl Theatre in Pilsen. Since his studies, he has represented the University of West Bohemia abroad, namely in Montreal, Canada. He currently performs in operas and operettas around the world including countries like the USA, France and Germany. With his original style, he also mesmerizes children audience as “Papageno in the Enchanted Forest”, a chamber version of Mozart’s The Magic Flute.
BOHUMILA SOMMEROVÁ / CZECHIA
Who can combine strength and tenderness? Once you hear Bohumila Sommerová, you will believe it is perfectly possible. Her love for classical music deepened at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava where she studied opera and concert signing after graduating from the conservatory. She collaborates with the J. K. Tyl Theatre in Pilsen where her brother Miro Bartoš works as a solo singer and a member of the choir. She currently focuses on her solo career, connecting her beloved classical music with cherished Romani music.
IVAN HERÁK
QUARTET / CZECHIA
Love for music, family cohesion and excitement about new music challenges – this is what we can find in the quartet led by Ivan Herák, one of the most popular violin virtuosos in Czechia. While teaching at the International Conservatory in Prague, he started to form this remarkable quartet. It contains both of his sons, Ivan who graduated from violin at the Prague Conservatory, and Filip, a contrabassist who is taking final exams at the International Conservatory in Prague this year. The three musicians were joined by the violoncellist Johana Keltová.
Tuesday,
30 May – 20:00
GYPSY JAZZ CONCERT: THE ROSENBERG TRIO & FAMILY
Lucerna Music Bar
The combination of classic jazz and traditional Romani music is breath-taking! Like every year, Khamoro also presents the world-known style of Gypsy jazz. For Khamoro’s 25th jubilee year, we have a real star performance – phenomenal The Rosenberg Trio & Family from the Netherlands. Members of this famous family have prepared an exceptional performance for our anniversary year.
THE ROSENBERG TRIO & FAMILY / NETHERLANDS
The world’s biggest Gypsy jazz start without exaggeration, this is how we can describe the legendary Rosenberg music family from the Netherlands. Those who heard it will hardly ever forget. Their guitars inspired by the legendary Django Reinhardt has charmed listeners around the world for more than 30 years – they even performed at the iconic Carnegie Hall in New York. Known for his surprising virtuosic style, creativity, clearness and precision, Stochelo Rosenberg is one of the most admired solo guitar players. Although he is often called one of the world’s best Gypsy jazz guitarists, he remains modest. The trio performed with stars such as Luciano Pavarotti, Stéphane Grappelli and Toots Thielemans. Stochelo Rosenberg is simply a legend. For Khamoro’s 25th birthday, the band has prepared a unique performance.
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Thursday,
1 June
TRADITIONAL ROMANI MUSIC CONCERTS
La Fabrika
Authentic flamenco, Hungarian csapas, wild Balkan brass music and traditional songs of Czech and Slovak Roma – simply the best of Romani music of the entire world in one place! Visit the La Fabrika venue and enjoy unique atmosphere which you could not find at any other music festival in Czechia.
ALL-STAR BAND / CZECHIA
ARBAT & BOLOU FERRÉ / FRANCE
KOČANI ORKESTAR / NORTH MACEDONIA
The best Czech and Slovak Romani musicians together on the stage! The singer and keyboard player Milan Kroka, virtuoso violinist Marek Balog, legendary pianist Zdeněk Lázok and musical singer Mária Bikárová got together to celebrate Khamoro’s 25th birthday. You can look forward to traditional Romani songs from Czechia and Slovakia in the most authentic performance. Whether you like a wild czardas or a heart-breaking halgató, you can have it all!
What does traditional Romani music and dance look like in the 21st century? Exactly like Arbat from France! Members of this music and dance group build on the traditional music and dance of the Russian Roma – after all, their name pays tribute to the famous bohemian quarter in Moscow. However, their arrangements are also enriched with a hint of jazz, swing and Latino music. It is not the first time this phenomenal band performs at Khamoro and because of its popularity, it deserves to be on stage of the jubilee 25th year. So make sure you won’t miss their show!
One of the most original and popular Balkan brass bands ever! They bring unique style, a spontaneous show and incredibly energetic music! If anyone makes North Macedonia famous internationally, it is certainly Kočani Orkestar. This loudest and most popular Balkan band gained recognition among people in the late 1980s. And ever since, they have continued to play sold-out performances all around the world. Enjoy the brass band music which sparked off the global mania for Balkan music!
LE ROM / HUNGARY
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Authentic Hungarian csardas will certainly make you stand up and dance! If you take pleasure in catchy and enticing melodies and brisk rhythms, you will love Le Rom. Not surprisingly, they scored in the Hungarian talent TV show Talentometer – and thanks to TV viewers, they won the authentic folk category. You can expect the best of what Romani Hungarian traditional music can offer: excellent singing, masterful playing, typical metal jars, tambura and guitar and, of course, energetic csapas!
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Friday,
2 June - 19:00
TRADITIONAL ROMANI MUSIC CONCERTS
La Fabrika
Authentic flamenco, Hungarian csapas, wild Balkan brass music and traditional songs of Czech and Slovak Roma – simply the best of Romani music of the entire world in one place! Visit the La Fabrika venue and enjoy unique atmosphere which you could not find at any other music festival in Czechia.
MAHALA RAI BANDA / ROMANIA
MARCELA / FRANCE – SLOVAKIA
MARKO ŠABANOVIĆ / SERBIA
Genuine masters of Balkan Romani music! With eleven musicians, this band if full of life and energy and ranks among the most popular Romani bands in Europe and the USA. Their track Mahalageasca was even used in the famous Borat film. Mahala Rai Banda mixes traditional Romani music, Balkan brass music, soul, Turkish and Arabian music with a bit of reggae and dance music. The band members come from Romanian villages of Clejani and Zeci Prajine that are renowned for their incredible presence of virtuoso Romani musicians. So they really are the best of the best!
When love for Romani music connects people… This is what happened to this French-Slovak band whose frontwoman is Marcela Cisárová. The Romani singer and dancer grew up in Slovakia and learned at the Romathan Theatre in Košice. Since mid-1990s, she has lived in France. While Marcela is of Kalderash origin, her colleagues are non-Roma and together, they form an energetic band combining folk and modern music of Central and Eastern Europe. You will fall in love with Marcela’s strong voice at the first listening!
This charismatic Romani singer’s mastery will win the hearts of the audience – and not only the ladies’ ones. In his homeland of Serbia, he succeeded in numerous talent TV shows. Besides Serbia, he performs in Austria, Germany, Belgium and France, and his YouTube songs have hundreds of thousands of views. Marko inherited huge music talent and distinctive voice after his grandfather, Šaban Bajramović who was sometimes called the king of Romani music. To pay tribute to him and to celebrate Khamoro’s 25th jubilee, Marko Šabanović has prepared a special performance!
PUERTO FLAMENCO / SPAIN
Untamed energy, raw emotions, sound orgies as well as compete silence. This performance will give you goose bumps and make your mouth drop open. No doubt – Puerto Flamenco has some of the best flamenco dancers and musicians in the world. They come right from the heart of Sevilla, a cradle of this Spanish cultural treasure. With a history of almost twenty years, the band is led by the dancer Francesca 'La Chica' whose expression and flaming movements express pride and feminine beauty. Breath-taking and genuine – that’s Puerto Flamenco!
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Saturday,
3 June – 20:00
GALA CONCERT
Archa Theatre
The highlight of the festival week – the final gala concert at the Archa Theatre presents all the bands that performed in the previous traditional Romani music concerts at La Fabrika. To close the evening, all performers will play and sing the international Romani anthem Gelem, gelem together. Fantastic experience, fantastic energy, fantastic atmosphere!
ALL-STAR BAND / CZECHIA
The best Czech and Slovak Romani musicians together on the stage! The singer and keyboard player Milan Kroka, virtuoso violinist Marek Balog, legendary pianist Zdeněk Lázok and musical singer Mária Bikárová got together to celebrate Khamoro’s 25th birthday. You can look forward to traditional Romani songs from Czechia and Slovakia in the most authentic performance. Whether you like a wild czardas or a heart-breaking halgató, you can have it all!
ARBAT & BOULOU FERRÉ / FRANCE
What does traditional Romani music and dance look like in the 21st century? Exactly like Arbat from France! Members of this music and dance group build on the traditional music and dance of the Russian Roma – after all, their name pays tribute to the famous bohemian quarter in Moscow. However, their arrangements are also enriched with a hint of jazz, swing and Latino music. It is not the first time this phenomenal band performs at Khamoro and because of its popularity, it deserves to be on stage of the jubilee 25th year. So make sure you won’t miss their show!
KOČANI ORKESTAR / NORTH MACEDONIA
One of the most original and popular Balkan brass bands ever! They bring unique style, a spontaneous show and incredibly energetic music! If anyone makes North Macedonia famous internationally, it is certainly Kočani Orkestar. Loud and perfectly well-coordinated, this Balkan band rose to fame thanks to its appearance in Emir Kusturica’s film Dom za vesanje (“Time of the Gypsies”). And ever since, they have continued to play sold-out performances all around the world. Enjoy the brass band music which sparked off the global mania for Balkan music!
MARKO ŠABANOVIĆ / SERBIA
This charismatic Romani singer’s mastery will win the hearts of the audience – and not only the ladies’ ones. In his homeland of Serbia, he succeeded in numerous talent TV shows. Besides Serbia, he performs in Austria, Germany, Belgium and France, and his YouTube songs have hundreds of thousands of views. Marko inherited huge music talent and distinctive voice after his grandfather, Šaban Bajramović who was sometimes called the king of Romani music. To pay tribute to him and to celebrate Khamoro’s 25th jubilee, Marko Šabanović has prepared a special performance!
PUERTO FLAMENCO / SPAIN
Untamed energy, raw emotions, sound orgies as well as compete silence. This performance will give you goose bumps and make your mouth drop open. No doubt – Puerto Flamenco has some of the best flamenco dancers and musicians in the world. They come right from the heart of Sevilla, a cradle of this Spanish cultural treasure. With a history of almost twenty years, the band is led by the dancer Francesca 'La Chica' whose expression and flaming movements express pride and feminine beauty. Breath-taking and genuine – that’s Puerto Flamenco!
MARCELA / FRANCE – SLOVAKIA
When love for Romani music connects people… This is what happened to this French-Slovak band whose frontwoman is Marcela Cisárová. The Romani singer and dancer grew up in Slovakia and learned at the Romathan Theatre in Košice. Since mid-1990s, she has lived in France. While Marcela is of Kalderash origin, her colleagues are non-Roma and together, they form an energetic band combining folk and modern music of Central and Eastern Europe. You will fall in love with Marcela’s strong voice at the first listening!
LE ROM / HUNGARY
MAHALA RAI BANDA / ROMANIA
Authentic Hungarian csardas will certainly make you stand up and dance! If you take pleasure in catchy and enticing melodies and brisk rhythms, you will love Le Rom. Not surprisingly, they scored in the Hungarian talent TV show Talentometer – and thanks to TV viewers, they won the authentic folk category. You can expect the best of what Romani Hungarian traditional music can offer: excellent singing, masterful playing, typical metal jars, tambura and guitar and, of course, energetic csapas!
Genuine masters of Balkan Romani music! With eleven musicians, this band if full of life and energy and ranks among the most popular Romani bands in Europe and the USA. Their track Mahalageasca was even used in the famous Borat film. Mahala Rai Banda mixes traditional Romani music, Balkan brass music, soul, Turkish and Arabian music with a bit of reggae and dance music. The band members come from Romanian villages of Clejani and Zeci Prajine that are renowned for their incredible presence of virtuoso Romani musicians. So they really are the best of the best!