~ Bio ~
Ensemble FLAIR
Because of the typical instrumental setting and the presence of the female singer, it is clear the Ensemble FLAIR has its roots in the Moravian folk tradition. Here in Moravia all members of Flair were born, here they live and from here they present their musical expression to the world.
The musical language of FLAIR expresses a symbiosis between folk music and classical music. The fact there will be no changes in the musicians of FLAIR, will lead into a well-sounding and well-singing FLAIR. With a little of Leoš Janáček, Béla Bartók, the heritage of Carpathian folk musicians, the Gypsy music from Bucharest and Budapest and last but not least, compositions of Flair´s artistic leader, Jan Rokyta.
After a succesfull start in the concert serie of Czech Radio Ostrava in November 2014, FLAIR won the prestigious 1st prize in the international EBU competition „GRAND PRIX OF SVETOZÁR STRAČINA 2015” for the arrangement and interpretation of the Moravian folk song “Ej, lásko, lásko”. Short after, FLAIR has recorded its first album „From the Springs ...more
Because of the typical instrumental setting and the presence of the female singer, it is clear the Ensemble FLAIR has its roots in the Moravian folk tradition. Here in Moravia all members of Flair were born, here they live and from here they present their musical expression to the world.
The musical language of FLAIR expresses a symbiosis between folk music and classical music. The fact there will be no changes in the musicians of FLAIR, will lead into a well-sounding and well-singing FLAIR. With a little of Leoš Janáček, Béla Bartók, the heritage of Carpathian folk musicians, the Gypsy music from Bucharest and Budapest and last but not least, compositions of Flair´s artistic leader, Jan Rokyta.
After a succesfull start in the concert serie of Czech Radio Ostrava in November 2014, FLAIR won the prestigious 1st prize in the international EBU competition „GRAND PRIX OF SVETOZÁR STRAČINA 2015” for the arrangement and interpretation of the Moravian folk song “Ej, lásko, lásko”. Short after, FLAIR has recorded its first album „From the Springs to the Sea...” (Indies Happy Trails).
Further in 2016, FLAIR took a prominent part on the profile CD of its solo-singer Klára Blažková, „In the Lap of Mountains Homeland” (Indies Happy Trails). This CD has got many positive reviews. In November 2016, Ensemble FLAIR took part on the International Music Festival MUSICA PURA in the cross-over interpretation of Moravian Folk Poetry in Songs together with the world-known Czech opera soprano Martina Janková and famous Czech pianist Ivo Kahánek (ČT art: Janková zpívá Janáčka).
In 2017 and 2018 FLAIR staged a program of Lent and Easter songs, which was published in 2019 on the album "Music of Truth". In the same year, FLAIR played a key role in the profile album of the BLAženky "Prvý raz!" with folk melodies from Wallachia and Slovak folklore regions.
In 2020, FLAIR participates in a Czech Television documentary about music, which was inspired by lyrics of Czech poets. It also participates in a radio recording of Moravian folk ballads and prepares for a "cross-over" program "Valašské sonety" together with the Janáček Chamber Orchestra with artistic director and violinist Jakub Černohorský. In September 2020, FLAIR´s second profile album will be released under the title "Drop to Drop". All albums in which FLAIR has participated since its inception were released by Indies Happy Trails. Ensemble FLAIR collaborates with leading Czech actors Alfred Strejček and Tomáš Jirman.
hide detail~ Members ~
JAN ROKYTA (1969)
cimbalom - artistic leader
Jan Rokyta studied to play the cimbalom with Ludmila Dadakova at the Conservatory of Music in Bratislava (Slovakia) and the recorder with Walter van Hauwe and Paul Leenhouts at the Sweelinck Academy of Music in Amsterdam. He has played with, among others, the Cimbalom band Technik in Ostrava (Czech Republic), which was founded in 1958 by his father, Jan Rokyta sr. In addition he was a regular guest of the OĽUN Radio Bratislava and Brno Radio Orchestra of folk instruments (BROLN).
In the field of contemporary classical music Jan Rokyta cooperated with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Radio Bratislava and later in the Netherlands with ASKO-Schönberg Ensemble, the Nederlands Blazers Ensemble, Het Nieuw Ensemble, Concertgebouworkest and Radio Chamber Philharmonic. Recently, he is also a frequent guest of philharmonic and chamber orchestras in Germany and Austria (eg. Österreichisches Ensemble für Neue Musik, Klangforum and Radio-Symfonieorchester Südwestrundfunk Stuttgart).
In the field of world folklore Jan Rokyta gained rich experiences in the ...more
cimbalom - artistic leader
Jan Rokyta studied to play the cimbalom with Ludmila Dadakova at the Conservatory of Music in Bratislava (Slovakia) and the recorder with Walter van Hauwe and Paul Leenhouts at the Sweelinck Academy of Music in Amsterdam. He has played with, among others, the Cimbalom band Technik in Ostrava (Czech Republic), which was founded in 1958 by his father, Jan Rokyta sr. In addition he was a regular guest of the OĽUN Radio Bratislava and Brno Radio Orchestra of folk instruments (BROLN).
In the field of contemporary classical music Jan Rokyta cooperated with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Radio Bratislava and later in the Netherlands with ASKO-Schönberg Ensemble, the Nederlands Blazers Ensemble, Het Nieuw Ensemble, Concertgebouworkest and Radio Chamber Philharmonic. Recently, he is also a frequent guest of philharmonic and chamber orchestras in Germany and Austria (eg. Österreichisches Ensemble für Neue Musik, Klangforum and Radio-Symfonieorchester Südwestrundfunk Stuttgart).
In the field of world folklore Jan Rokyta gained rich experiences in the International Dance Theatre Orchestra in Amsterdam, where he worked from 1995-2002 as a soloist and instrumental music implementer and as a music director of the orchestra in 2007-2008 season. The cooperation with Jewish singer Shura Lipovsky in 2004 was crowned participation in the international festivals of Jewish music in Krakow, Weimar and Amsterdam.
Along with Liselotte Rokyta created Jan Rokyta an unusual instrumental combination of panflute and cimbalom. Together they offer a concert program including folk music of Eastern Europe, as well as the transcriptions and original compositions for panflute and cimbalom.
Jan Rokyta began professionally devote to study of wine parallel with career as a professional musician, by the study at the Dutch Wine Academy in 2003-2004. After graduating the academy he became a qualified "Viticulturist" and since 2006 he studied further at the British organization WINE AND SPIRIT EDUCATION TRUST, where he graduated fourth degree "Diploma Course" in 2009 and he became a full member of this organization (AIWS - Associated Member Institue Wine and Spirit). In early 2010, successfully graduated WSET course lecturers in London and he became a certified teacher of the organization (WSET Certified Educator). In the same year he gained the title "Weinakademiker of Austrian Wine Academy in Rust", because of the defense of his thesis about the export potential of Moravian wines. Jan Rokyta has taught at the Prague Wine Academy since 2011 and he has engaged in consulting activities for Moravian wine growers.
Jan Rokyta is a five-time finalist of the Dutch tasting competition "Prix Pommery" and after the 2nd place in 2006 he became the laureate of the competition in 2009 and "The Netherlands Viticulturist of the Year 2010".
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KLÁRA BLAŽKOVÁ (1986)
vocal
PETR VALA (1990)
violin
LUKÁŠ ŠVAJDA (1989)
double bass
