Under the golden dome and between the marble columns of Rudolfinum’s Dvořák Hall, the first notes of the evening drift over a captivated audience: the pure, unaccompanied voice of Mexican singer-songwriter Silvana Estrada.
Dressed in a striking red gown, she stood at centre stage, her a cappella opening creating an immediate, intimate bond with the crowd. With this bold beginning, Estrada set the tone for the 29th annual Prague Sounds festival, a celebration defined by artistic fluidity and women-led performances.
Estrada’s performance on Nov. 1 coincided poignantly with the Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos, a celebration dedicated too honoring the lives of the departed and welcoming the return of their spirits. Traditionally, families build altars, filled with photos, candles, marigolds, and favorite foods to honor loved ones.
Estrada, performing away from Mexico for the first time during the holiday, spoke about her family and invited the audience to join her in transforming the concert hall into a “musical altar” of remembrance.
The 28-year-old artist developed her whimsical musical style and powerful voice while studying jazz at Veracruzana University in her home country. Her music explores themes of love, grief, and empowerment, intertwining joy and pain to take listeners on a journey of her self-discovery. Estrada first gained international attention with her 2022 debut album Marchita, a deeply personal work expressing heartbreak and healing, followed by Vendrán Suaves Lluvias (2025), a more hopeful and radiant addition. Each of her albums captures a distinct chapter of struggle and growth, reflecting her personal and artistic evolution.
Estrada is currently on an international tour, concluding her European dates before beginning the American leg later this month.
Her concert at Prague Sounds 2025 marked her Czech debut, an occasion she expressed with gratitude and humor, noting that while most artists’ first shows in new countries might be in small venues, hers took place at the iconic Rudolfinum. After her a cappella introduction, Estrada was joined by a string quartet accompaniment, and later a full chamber orchestra for songs that incorporate soft brass melodies.
She alternated between guitar and a Venezuelan cuatro, a small Latin American string instrument resembling a classical guitar.
The set included tracks from her latest projects, including “Dime”, “Te Guardo”, and “Sabré Olvidar,” interspersed with covers of popular Latin American songs. The performance balanced cultural depth and artistic expression, aligning seamlessly with the spirit of Prague Sounds.
Founded in 1996 as “Strings of Autumn” under the patronage of former Czech president Václav Havel, Prague Sounds has become one of the country’s major music festivals, bringing together iconic and emerging artists across genres.
This year, the festival aims to break generational and traditional boundaries, highlighting connections between musical eras and cultures rather than divisions.
The program also explores electronic, experimental, and hip-hop music. On Nov. 13, rapper and producer Idea curates a unique “rap summit” celebrating the Czech music scene, featuring rap-electronica duo Laokoon and guests Blue Uandi, Slav, Fæ Bestia, and BoLs/sLoB. The evening continues with Champion Sound, one of the country’s most respected live bands, joined by KYX Orchestra, Unique Strings, and guests James Cole, Rest, and MC René, and Idea himself.
Champion Sound specializes in old school funk and hip-hop beats, with a history of collaborations with international rap artists.
The festival continues on Nov. 16 with emerging talent Berwyn and the Moses Yoofee Trio. Hailing from Trinidad and Tobago, Berwyn blends soulful melodies with emotional storytelling, shaped by his migration experience in the UK. Berlin-based Moses Yoofee Trio has gained international recognition for its fusion of jazz, R&B, and soul.
The festival’s spotlight performance, Cécile McLorin Salvant, a three-time Grammy winner and MacArthur “genius” fellow, is widely regarded as one of the most compelling jazz vocalists of her generation. Salvant expands the language of jazz by weaving together vaudeville, blues, folk, baroque, and theater elements, exploring themes of identity, history, and human relationships rooted in her mixed heritage.
From Estrada’s emotional opening to the festival’s diverse lineup spanning jazz, classical, electronic, and hip-hop, Prague Sounds 2025 celebrates the power of music to connect cultures, generations, and artistic visions. With boundary-defying performances throughout, the festival offers audiences an unforgettable experience where tradition meets innovation.
Disclaimer: All images in this piece are provided by the official Prague Sounds website. Spectators were not permitted to take photographs during the performances.
