Jiří Korn

Guest of the State Opera Prague

Singer and dancer Jiří Korn, after leaving his secondary school in Prague, went on to study music and dance privately (step with F. Towen, dance with M. Korn). He performed with the rock groups Mickey, Rebels, Shut Up (headed by Fr. Ringo Čech), and Olympic (1971–73). In 1971, he became a soloist singer. In the second half of the 1970s, he won significant awards at international contests – Grand Prix de Paris de la Chanson (1975), First prize at the Tampere International Festival (1978), First prize at the Cavan International Song Contest, prizes from the Bratislava Lyre and the Děčín Anchor song festivals. He placed second in the national singer’s poll The Golden Nightingale in 1978, and third in 1977, 1979, and 1980. Beside his singer’s carrier, he has been a significant TV figure. As an actor, he played in the feature films Almost King Jack, An Angel with Devil in her Body, Angel Seducing Devil, Almost Pink Story, At the End of the World, and Trash. He had the opportunity of presenting his many-faceted theatre talents (singing, dancing and acting) in many musical roles – Hans Anderssen (Vienna 1986), Les Misérables (Thenardier), Dracula (the three-some part of the Jester–Servant–Professor), Monte Cristo (Danglars), Miss Saigon (Engineer). He also performed in ice shows – Father Frost, Romeo and Juliet, and in theatre dramas – Maids (Madam), Red Maggie (Hieronymus). He was awarded the Thálie Prix in 2004 for his extraordinary achievements in the field of dramatic arts, for the part of Thenardier in Les Misérables.