Ondřej Havelka
Ondřej Havelka is a Czech jazz and swing singer, actor, and director. He began his musical career singing with the jazz band Original Prague Syncopated Orchestra in 1976 and went on to form his own group, Ondřej Havelka a jeho Melody Makers, in 1995. He has worked as an actor since the 1970s, and he is the director of several documentary films as well as the 2018 feature Hastrman.
Early life
Ondřej Havelka was born on 10 October 1954 in Prague, Czechoslovakia. He is the son of actress Libuše Havelková and composer Svatopluk Havelka. After graduating in acting from Prague's DAMU in 1980, he pursued postgraduate studies in opera directing at the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts in Brno, graduating in 1988. Between 1973 and 1983, he also worked at Prague's Studio Ypsilon theatre, and he did a sting at Prague's Karlín Music Theatre.Career
Music
Havelka joined the Original Prague Syncopated Orchestra in 1976 as its lead vocalist, releasing five studio albums with the group. He left in 1995 to form his own band in Berlin, the Golden Prague Syncopated Orchestra, taking several members of OPSO with him. The ensemble was later renamed Ondřej Havelka a jeho Melody Makers, and it remains active to this day.Film and television
In 1989, Havelka began working as a screenwriter and director in television. In 1990, he wrote the script and directed the music documentary Originální pražský synkopický orchestr, about his former band, which won the "Silver Rose" award at the 1991 Rose d'Or festival. In 1995, he wrote the script for and directed the television documentary Mezzosoprano Magdalena Kožená. In 1999, he wrote, directed, and appeared in the documentary film Zdravý nemocný Vlastimilený Brodský. In 2008, he directed the documentary film Magdalena, once more about Kožená. In 2012, he made the documentary film Perla baroka, about the theatre at Český Krumlov Castle. In 2018, Havelka wrote and directed his first feature film, Hastrman, which starred Karel Dobrý and Simona Zmrzlá.Awards
In 1995, Havelka won the Gramy award for directing the best music video, for the song "Děkuji, bylo to krásné". A year later, he won once more, this time for best jazz performer.In 2018, he received an honorary citizenship from the Prague 5 city hall for "lifelong contributions to society", namely, in the field of culture.
Personal life
Havelka has two sons, including actor and musician Vojtěch Havelka and singer, actress, dancer, and former model Rozálie Havelková.Discography
with Original Prague Syncopated Orchestra
Original Prague Syncopated Orchestra at Breda Jazz Festival Originální Pražský Synkopický Orchestr Stará, Natoč Gramofon Jazz & Hot Dance Music 1923–31 Sám s Děvčetem v Dešti- ''Hello Baby''
Solo
- ''Ondřej Havelka uvádí The Swings''
with Ondřej Havelka a jeho Melody Makers
Mě to tady nebaví Šťastný nový rok '98 Jen pro ten dnešní den Rhapsody in Blue: Pocta George Gershwinovi Swing It Sing, Sing, Sing featuring Sestry Havelkovy Vzpomínky na hvězdný prach Nejlepší kusy z repertoiru Ondřeje Havelky a jeho Melody Makers Tentokrát zcela rozvrkočení Ondřej Havelka a jeho Melody Makers vám přejí veselé vánoce. Bílé a oranžové Rhapsody in Blue Room Saturnin Dávají perly swingu Kríze sem, kríze tam... Nás to tady furt baví Cole Porter with Magdalena Kožená Swing nylonového věku Nebe Na Zemi with Adam PlachetkaSelected filmography
Writer and director
Originální pražský synkopický orchestr Mezzosoprano Magdalena Kožená Zdravý nemocný Vlastimilený Brodský Poslední mohykán – documentary mapping the life of jazz musician Jiří TraxlerMagdalena Perla baroka- ''Hastrman''
Actor
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1977 | Řeknem si to příští léto | Karel | |
| 1980 | Koncert na konci léta | Fenix | |
| 1980 | Krakonoš a lyžníci | Teacher | |
| 1980–1985 | Bakaláři | Various roles | Television series; 4 episodes |
| 1982 | Incomplete Eclipse | Eye doctor | |
| 1983 | Pod nohama nebe | Petr | |
| 1983 | Oblouk světla | Vencl | Television series; 2 episodes |
| 1984 | Cesta kolem mé hlavy | Professor Robert Kilián | |
| 1985 | Rumburak | Mr. Tumlír | - |
| 1986 | Není sirotek jako sirotek | Jirka Spěváček | |
| 1986 | Chobotnice z druhého patra | Bóda | Television series; 1 episode |
| 1986–1990 | Malý televizní kabaret | Television series; 13 episodes | |
| 1988 | Nefňukej, veverko! | Father's friend | |
| 1988 | Panoptikum města pražského | Dr. Souček | Television series; 10 episodes |
| 1989 | Dobrodružství kriminalistiky | Alphonse Bertillon | Television series; 1 episode |
| 1991 | Kafka | Friend of Kafka | |
| 1994 | Saturnin | Jiří Oulický | |
| 1995 | Zdravý nemocný Vlastimilený Brodský | Himself |