Vladimira Krckova: A Return to The Source

About the Performance

Vladimira Krckova is not merely a sophisticated performer; she is a force of nature returning to the stage, fully embodied. A true polymath—singer, actress, poet, composer, and healer—her art is the refined output of a lifelong journey from being eclectically musically educated since very early childhood, the concert venues and theatres of Europe, USA, and Central America to a profound, two-decade spiritual excavation.

Her upcoming performance is more than a concert; it is the culmination of this odyssey. Having healed the fractures of a personal and general past she agreed to carry and release, Vladimira now channels her immense sensitivity not as a wound, but as her greatest refined, freed instrument. Her voice is a conduit for a depth of emotion that is both devastating and healing, a sound that doesn’t just reach the ears but recalibrates the soul.

Having had to surrender to my transformation as a healer, having had to hide before the world so that all could have been exposed, alchemised, had been the most difficult part of my life journey yet. Therefore, I can’t describe the joy with which I am returning to the stage, the joy that was born out of arduous metamorphosis, the joy I am here to share with you now. – Vladimira Krckova

In a rare and powerful partnership, she is joined by a distinguished pianist and poet, Robert Mitchell, a kindred spirit whose touch on the keys mirrors and amplifies the profound, narrative quality of their artistry. Together, they will navigate a landscape on the edge of pop, jazz, world, and classical music—a genre-fluid space where raw emotion and sophisticated craft merge.

This evening promises an encounter with an artist who has fully stepped into her truth. To witness Vladimira is to witness the rare alignment of technical mastery, creative vision, emotional richness, and spiritual presence. It is the sound of a soul, once in exile, now singing from its unshakable home – a home where you are warmly welcomed.

About the Artists

Vladimira Krckova (also known as VLAD.), born in Czechia, is an independent singer, poet, bandleader, composer, producer, actress, director, dancer, choreographer and visual artist living in London, United Kingdom. 

Ms Krckova was exposed to all kinds of music very early in life. Then, at the age of six, she started to study music theory and play the accordion and shortly afterwards, the piano. Her studies of modern dance as well as participation in choirs made her dive very deeply into music in every possible way, founding a great love for writing music but also experimenting as a choreographer.

In 2004, she created her own one-woman show, “Voice Monodrama” during an artist residency at Villa Decius in Krakow, Poland. In 2005, she participated as a lead singer on the album “Teba” of the Czech folk music group Cymbelin and performed at Colours of Ostrava, a major international music festival in the Czech Republic.

In 2008 (in Europe), she performed alongside Grammy-nominated pianist and composer John Serry Jr. In 2012, she composed, arranged and produced her album – influenced by jazz, contemporary and classical music – entitled “Go for a Rich Man”, which was named by leading Czech music critic Lubomir Doruzka “The most interesting music act of the last several years”. In 2015, she wrote, directed and produced her official music video “Your Aura on my Lips”, with creative audio post-production by Michael Riesman (music director of the Philip Glass Ensemble, arranger and conductor for David Bowie, Paul Simon and Martin Scorsese).

In 2016 (in Mexico City), she performed with the highly acclaimed Mexican piano player and composer Alex Mercado (named “The Best Mexican Jazz Musician” by Downbeat magazine) and also had her visual art in several exhibitions. As an actress, besides several Czech plays where she starred in lead or featured roles, she appeared in an award-winning Czech feature film “Pohadky pro Emu” (“Christmas for Ema”, 2017), alongside Ondrej Vetchy, a Czech film superstar. In London, Krckova performed her original music with the guitarist Robin Banerjee (Amy Winehouse), and pop/soul/R&B music with the guitarist Dave Ital (Chaka Khan, Tom Jones, Beyonce).

At the moment, Ms Krckova is focused on composing, arranging and producing her first international music album as well as a music-film project (UK/USA).

Robert Mitchell is an award-winning pianist, composer, bandleader, teacher, and poet. He has released 15 albums and has led the bands Little Black Book, Epiphany 3, TRUE THINK and The Flame. His latest release is the debut from new power trio Little Black Book – ‘Blueprint (Of An Infinite Gift)’ on Whirlwind Recordings.

He has worked with (amongst many) – Billy Harper, Phil Ranelin, Steve Coleman, Courtney Pine, Julien Lourau, Dayme Arocena, Alicia Olatuja, Joshua Redman, Bournemouth Symphony Chorus, Ty, Shirley Smart, Orphy Robinson, Basement Jaxx, Matana Roberts, Jhelisa Anderson, Soweto Kinch, Empirical and Norma Winstone. He has won the Hamlyn Award for Composition, A Broadcast Award (as MD on Jazz 625 Live shown on BBC4 TV), and has composed commissions for the London Sinfonietta and Jazz South. His large-scale work Invocation was performed at the QEH in 2014 with the BSC, Goldsmith Big String, Panacea and a combined youth chorus. He performed (and narrated poetry) at the 6th Euro Poetry Biennale in Brasov (Romania) in 2023 and recently completed a year as an Artist-In-Residence at Morley College.

Robert is a Piano Professor at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Royal Academy of Music, a teacher at YMM and a mentor at Black Lives in Music. He is a new ambassador for the Tempo fund at the Merton Music Foundation.

Robert has been a Steinway Artist since 2009. He has released three collections of poetry (the last two out on Common Tone Press – Seattle, US). He is a composer in the newly announced Grade 6-8 Jazz book for piano (ABRSM).

Programme

A journey across soundscapes, from American classics like “Blue in Green” and “A Child is Born,” to the Brazilian gem “Serenata do Adeus,” and a contemporary reimagining of Baroque and 20th-century arias. The evening will also feature new compositions by Vladimira Krckova from her upcoming album A Woman in a Hurricane, alongside rare musical discoveries including a surprise Mexican song and a beloved pop classic. All pieces are beautifully arranged into a unified, original sound, ready to be visited.