David Uličník is a Czech singer and musical theatre actor. He spent his childhood and student years in Kroměříž, and even back then, his life revolved around music. His first engagement came in 1997 in the musical Hair at the Pyramida Theatre in Prague, followed by a long series of successful roles – including Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, for which he received his first (but not last) Thalia Award nomination. David is a founding member of the vocal group 4TET with Jiří Korn, and he has collaborated with the legendary Karel Gott, opera singer Eva Urbanová, and violin virtuoso Jaroslav Svěcený. He is also a great admirer of another Kroměříž native, Karel Kryl, and since 2021, has performed his own show titled Dialogues with Kryl. David Uličník is truly a unique voice of Czech, Moravian, and international music.
David Uličník on his relationship with Kroměříž
I feel a very strong connection to Kroměříž. It is my hometown – I grew up here, spent my childhood and student years here, and this is where my musical journey began. And I witnessed the transformation of Kroměříž from an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan.
I experienced the end of the totalitarian regime here, and I have to admit that back then, Kroměříž was rather grey and unattractive. But then came the euphoric 1990s. That’s when I started playing music with my first bands – we played at the Old Brewery, at the Pioneers’ Meadow, everywhere possible. And the town began to come alive and bloom. Kroměříž has transformed wonderfully, and that makes me very happy.
That’s why I enjoy coming back, and I have many favourite places here. I always visit the Main Square, I enjoy walking through the old town’s alleys, stopping by the château and admiring its beauty. If I have time, I also go to the picture gallery, which I like very much as well.
But the place closest to my heart is definitely the Chateau Garden (Podzámecká zahrada). I love returning there, even if I have just a moment – whether it’s spring, summer, or autumn. There are many places in the garden that are connected to strong memories and have grown close to my heart.
However, Kroměříž is not for everyone. It’s not Disneyland, it’s not a funfair. There aren’t crowds of tourists. You can still enjoy the town peacefully, reflectively, without being surrounded by thousands of people. And I think that’s the great charm that Kroměříž still holds. You won’t experience that everywhere.
For the future, I wish that Kroměříž preserves its calm and charm, while at the same time making the most of what it has to offer. It’s a student town, with many secondary schools, a conservatory, even two art schools. I wish for Kroměříž to involve its students more – especially musicians and conservatory students – to encourage more interactions, more spontaneous playing, like in Italy or even in Asia. I also invite musicians from all over the country to come to Kroměříž, to meet the locals, to create bigger happenings and bring even more life into the town.
Kroměříž is a wonderful town – a place for reflection and discovery – and maybe thanks to the peace one can experience here, people are just a little closer to one another – closer to the heart.
