Karel Svoboda

Musical composer, producer

Musical talent and his first creative successes both had a fundamental influence in forming Karel Svoboda‘s artistic life course. In the 1960s he was a member of the popular rock group Mefisto. In 1963 he was a member of Laterna Magika and the theatre Rokoko. Songs written by Svoboda belong among the most successful hit recordings made by singer Karel Gott, and his compositions have appeared in the repertoires of all of the leading Czech singers. Lady Carneval, Kepak ty ptáčku hnízdo máš, Stín katedrál, Hej, hej baby, Láska bláznivá, Yveta, Lásko má já stůňu, Čau lásko and other famous hits were played, and are still played today around the world. His compositions garnered awards at the most important musical festivals – in Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and in Cannes. However, the name of Karel Svoboda is not only connected with popular music, but also with very successful television productions and music for full-length films, both domestic and foreign productions - Včelka Mája, Cirkus Humberto, Létající Čestmír, Pinocchio, Tao Tao, Sůl nad zlato, Tři oříšky pro Popelku, Jak se budí princezny, Návštěvníci, Což takhle dát si špenát, Zítra vstanu a opařím se čajem, and he composed for the film musical Noc na Karlštejně, Dobrodružství kriminalistiky, Kačenka a strašidla, Big Man (with Bud Spencer and Ursula Andress), Z pekla štěstí, Milenci a vrazi, Rodinná pouta and other productions. Proof of his artistic successes is in the great number of golden or platinum records and awards he has won, such as from the German Polydor and Supraphon of Prague, from which he received a diamond record for 10 million recordings sold. He is also the holder of anniversary prizes awarded by the Czech Academy of Popular Music in 1996, 1997, and 1998. In 2007, Karel Svoboda was introduced in memoriam to the Hall of Fame of the Czech Academy of the Popular Music.

On October 13, 1995 the musical Dracula held its premiere in Prague, and its musical creative genius was none other than Karel Svoboda. The more than 2.5 million viewers who saw the performance in Prague, Bratislava, Prešov, Moscow, Gdyně, Basel, Tecklenburg, Antwerp, Seoul, Balzers in Lichtenstein, and more than 300 recordings sold with his compositions for musicals are proof of the international success of Dracula. Yet another successful stage work that Karel Svoboda worked upon is the musical Monte Cristo, which had its premiere on December 13, 2000 in Prague, enjoyed a run of 444 repeat performances and which, by the day of its derniere, December 21, 2002 had been viewed by more than 525 thousand spectators.

On June 13, 2006 the work of Karel Svoboda was granted the Golden Prize by OSA for its contribution to Czech popular music.

The last work of Karel Svoboda is the musical Golem (Lou Fanánek Hagen, Zdeněk Zelenka and Filip Renč), brought to its world premiere on November 23, 2006 in the Hybernia palace. Mr. Karel Svoboda died on January 28, 2007.