Thu 28/5 20:00
Markéta Foukalová & Martin Brunner: Zábrana

A musical tribute to the exceptional poet, prose writer, and translator Jan Zábrana, who left an indelible mark on the Czech literary scene of the 20th century.

This spring sees the release of a new album by Martin Brunner and Markéta Foukalová titled Zábrana, featuring musical settings of poems by Jan Zábrana (1931–1984). The project represents the first comprehensive musical tribute to this remarkable figure of Czech literature — a poet, translator, and writer. Zábrana’s work is marked by immense emotional power, a masterful command of language, and stands as a vital testimony to life in communist Czechoslovakia.

A selection of eleven poems spanning different periods of his life forms both a personal and historical narrative, touching on themes of love, family, unfreedom, and existential questions. Zábrana’s writing, often perceived as an intimate record of life and its time, becomes a powerful source of musical inspiration. His verses — precise, urgent, and deeply human — remain strikingly relevant today, opening space for a connection between word and music. This is the first time Zábrana’s poetry has been set to music on such a scale and within a cohesive album format. The project has already been presented on international stages, including in Vancouver and New York, with its Czech premiere taking place this May.

Composer and pianist Martin Brunner is among the distinctive voices of his generation, moving between jazz, contemporary music, and orchestral composition. He has released five original albums, collaborates with the acclaimed Concept Art Orchestra big band, and works with a wide range of leading figures on the Czech music scene across genres. He teaches composition and jazz performance at the Jaroslav Ježek Conservatory and College.

Markéta Foukalová is a distinctive singer and songwriter who naturally moves across genres ranging from pop and jazz to electronic and contemporary music. She is best known as a member of the band Lanugo and has also collaborated with artists such as Michal Pavlíček, Michal Prokop, and Jasná páka, among others.

The duo will be joined on guitar by Tomáš Fuchs, a graduate of the Jaroslav Ježek Conservatory and College, who has collaborated with artists including Jana Kirschner, Beata Hlavenková, Roman Holý, and Ewa Farna.

www.marketafoukalova.com
www.martinbrunner.cz

The event takes place as part of the Textconnexion 2026 and Jazzconnexion 2026 projects, with financial support from the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, the City of Pardubice, and the Pardubice Region. 

Admission: 220 CZK (students and disability card holders: 50% discount at the door)

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