Hana Hegerová

Hana HegerovÃÂ¡ (20 October 1931 Ã¢ÂÂ 23 March 2021) was a Slovak singer and actress. Often referred to as the Queen of Czechoslovak chanson, she gained popularity primarily as a singer of chansons. Outside of Czechoslovakia, HegerovÃÂ¡ attained recognition especially in German-speaking countries.

Early life

HegerovÃÂ¡ was born Carmen MÃÂ¡ria ÃÂ tefÃÂ¡nia FarkaÃÂ¡ovÃÂ¡.

Career

In 1954, HegerovÃÂ¡ played the title role in the film Frona under the name Hana ÃÂelkovÃÂ¡. She made her singing debut in Tatra Revue in Bratislava in 1957. After she came to Prague, the foremost Czech actor Jan Werich offered her an engagement in the , but she refused. HegerovÃÂ¡ performed at the Rokoko Theatre in Prague from 1958 until 2021. From 1961 to 1966 at the Semafor Theater, she appeared in the jazz opera DobÃÂe placenÃÂ¡ prochÃÂ¡zka by JiÃÂÃÂ SuchÃÂ½ (libretto) and JiÃÂÃÂ ÃÂ litr (music), and film Kdyby tisÃÂc klarinetÃÂ¯ (If a Thousand Clarinets). HegerovÃÂ¡'s repertoire included many chansons by Czech and Slovak authors, and also Czech versions of songs from the repertoire of ÃÂdith Piaf ("Mylord"), Jacques Brel ("Ne me quitte pas"), and songs by Kurt Weill ("Surabaya Johnny" and "The Barbara Song") and many others. In 1967, Hana HegerovÃÂ¡ appeared at the Paris Olympia.

In 2002, HeregovÃÂ¡ received a Medal of Merit from Czech President VÃÂ¡clav Havel. In 2014, she received an Order of TomÃÂ¡ÃÂ¡ Garrigue Masaryk from President MiloÃÂ¡ Zeman.

In August 2011, the national press announced that the diva decided to retire from the music industry, telling MusicServer: "I have decided that I no longer want it. I don't want to sing, I don't want to go public. I want to get rid of stress. Simply, the Hana HegerovÃÂ¡ enterprise is terminated, only Hana HegerovÃÂ¡ remains as a private person who finally wants to enjoy peaceful days with her dog. Wish me luck so that there are still lots of them left."

Illness and death

In December 2014, HegerovÃÂ¡ was hospitalized with serious heart problems in the General University Hospital (VÃÂ¡eobecnÃÂ¡ fakultnÃÂ nemocnice) in Prague.

She died on 23 March 2021 at 89 years old in Prague Hospital due to complications from a hip fracture.

Discography

Studio albums

1966: ÃÂ ansony s Hanou Hegerovou
1971: Recital
1973: Recital 2
1977: LÃÂ¡sko prokletÃÂ¡
1987: PotmÃÂÃÂ¡ilÃÂ½ host
2010: MlÃÂ½nskÃÂ© kolo v srdci mÃÂ©m

Export albums

1967: Ich (aka Chansons)
1969: Hana HegerovÃÂ¡
1972: So geht es auf der Welt zu
1974: Fast ein Liebeslied
1975: Wir fÃÂ¼r euch
1987: Chansons (aka Wenn die Schatten)

Filmography

Awards

Major awards

Notes

A "Szeptem" composed by Jerzy Abratowski for lyrics by Jacek Korczakowski, and the Gold award won by "Jesienna rozÃÂÃÂka" sung by Anita Traversi from Switzerland.
B HegerovÃÂ¡ shared the Bronze award along with Emil Dimitrov who entered the contest with "Arlekino". The Gold went to Greek Jeanne Yovanna for "Ti Krima", while Silver won by "Stav" by Ester Reichstadt from Israel.
C The award for the Female Singer of the Year went to Lucie BÃÂlÃÂ¡, while the second nominee was Lucie VondrÃÂ¡ÃÂkovÃÂ¡.
D The category of the Album of the Year won by TeplÃÂ¡ky aneb Kroky FrantiÃÂ¡ka Soukupa set by Nightwork band. Outlet People by Toxique group featured the rest of nominated works.
E According to the municipal authorities, Prague 1 awards the Honorary citizenship title only exceptionally. As such, HegerovÃÂ¡ became the first female ever and the fifth honoree in total, respectively (following writer Josef Topol, photographer Ladislav SitenskÃÂ½, conductor Jaroslav HrnÃÂÃÂÃÂ and architect Josef Hyzler).

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