Irena Havlova, Czech Musician & Wife of Vojtech Havel, Dies

Irena Havlová, Half of Influential Czech Musical Duo, Dies at 66

Irena Havlová, one half of the celebrated Czech musical duo Irena & Vojtěch Havlovi, died on October 31, 2025, in Rychnov nad Kněžnou, according to a statement released by Petr Ostrouchov of Animal Music. She was 66 years vintage. Her death, occurring almost exactly a year after the sudden passing of her husband, Vojtěch Havel, was kept private at the family’s request.

Together with her husband, Havlová created a unique sound blending elements of European minimalism, baroque, classical music, and Eastern traditions. Their collaborative work spanned decades, beginning in the 1970s and continuing until Vojtěch Havel’s death in October 2024.

The couple initially gained recognition in the early 1980s with the formation of Capella Antiqua e Moderna, an ensemble praised for its innovative approach to both historical and modern compositional techniques. They collaborated with prominent Czech musicians, including Oldřich Janota, Jiří Stivín, Alan Vitouš, and Tony Ackerman, before embarking on a solo career in 1990.

A pivotal period in their artistic development came in the early 1990s with four expeditions to India. These journeys profoundly influenced their work, resulting in four albums – Agni, Maha Rudra Yagya, Sri Maháprabhuji Bhajans, and Sri Mádhavánanda Bhajans – and four accompanying films. They sought to integrate spiritual traditions into their musical compositions.

Throughout their career, Irena and Vojtěch Havlovi explored a diverse range of instruments, including violoncello, piano, viola da gamba, bells, and Tibetan singing bowls. They viewed music as a vehicle for conveying a message of peace and spirituality.

In 2017, the duo received a Czech Lion Award for their score to the film Křižáček. Their album Four Hands, released in 2024, earned them an Anděl Award, a prestigious Czech music prize. Their final released album, Excursin Animato, a recording of a 2006 concert with Kora et le Mechanix, was released in 2025.

Irena Havlová was born on May 26, 1959, in Rychnov nad Kněžnou. She studied at the Faculty of Science of Charles University in Prague, graduating in 1984, while simultaneously pursuing her musical interests. Vojtěch Havel, born on May 19, 1962, studied cello and piano at the Prague Conservatory, also completing his studies in 1984.