October 6, 2024·Entertainment·Šárka Blahoňovská
Viktor Preiss (Source: Profimedia)
The Thalia Awards 2024 were awarded at a gala evening in the National Theatre, which traditionally honor artists for outstanding performances in the field of theatre, opera, ballet and musicals. Among the most important awards are the lifetime championship awards, which were received by actor Viktor Preiss, singer Helena Vondráčková, soprano Naďa Šormová and dancer and choreographer Josef Kotěšovský. Other awards were also given to Alfred Strejček and in memoriam Jan Číhal.
Actor Viktor Preiss, known for his extraordinary career in drama, plays and dubbing, thanked his wife Jana and wished those present health and peace. The audience rewarded him with a long standing ovation. An emotional speech was also delivered by Alfred Strejček, who arrived at the ceremony accompanied by his wife Jitka Molavcová.
Helena Vondráčková shared her memories of roles in musicals such as Wretchesor Oh mama, commemorating her 60-year career. She described the award as a beautiful gift and thanked everyone who supported her over the years. The 92-year-old soprano Naďa Šormová thanked the “four geniuses of Czech music” whose works she had the honor of interpreting during her career.
The evening was also dedicated to the memory of the actor and creator Jan Číhal, who was awarded in memoriam, and the director Lída Engelová was awarded for her significant contribution to theater art. Slovak actor Milan Kňažko won the first foreign Thalia award.
In the drama category, Kateřina Císařová was awarded for her role as Káti in the play Resurrectionin Prague’s Theater Na zábradlí, while Miloslav König won an award for his portrayal of Michel Houellebecq in the production Public enemies same theater. In the field of opera, Soňa Godarská dominated for the role of Manon in the JK Tyla Theater in Pilsen. Peter Berger then received an award for the title role in Smetana’s opera Dalibor at the National Theater in Brno.
The musical scene belonged to Markéta Schimmerová Procházková and Lukáš Vlček for their performances in the musical Chicago in the Moravian-Silesian National Theater in Ostrava. In the ballet category, the award for female performance went to Klára Jelínková for her role as Blanche DuBois in the production Tram to Touha station, Patrik Holeček he was singled out for his role as Franz in the ballet Coppélia.
