Ida Kelarová is a singer, musician and choirmaster, who performs some of the best Romany music to come out of the Czech Republic. On the occasion of Ida’s 65th birthday we are offering you some of the best of Ida Kellarová’s music.
In addition to her concerts, the singer organizes international workshops, multi-ethnic projects, the Roma festival Gypsy Celebration and helps found choirs with a repertoire of Romany songs. In 1999, together with her current partner Desiderio Dužda, she formed the group Romano Rat (Roma Blood), with which she tours many countries of the world.
Paradoxically it was years before Ida discovered her Romany roots and drew inspiration from Roma culture and music. Because of the prejudices against the Romany minority, her father Koloman Bitto, a Romany from southern Slovakia with incredible musical talent, took the drastic step of covering up his family’s origin. He believed he was doing the right thing for his three daughters and giving them a better start in life. Since the girls were light-haired and Ida herself was a blond baby the deception went undetected for years.
Today her Roma legacy has become an important part of Ida Kellarova’s life and she works hard to help talented Romany children living in excluded localities in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
