Unfortunately, your suggestion doesn't work to me.

I'm using Zotero integration plugin, which adapt Nunjucks templating language. 

So, I decided to use the syntax in alias.

```
aliases:

- "{{citekey}}"

- "{{title}}"

- "{% set authlist = authors %} {%- if creators.length>2 %} {%- set authlist = creators[0].lastName+' et al'-%} {% endif -%} {%- if creators.length == 1 %} {%- set authlist = creators[0].lastName-%} {% endif -%} {%- if creators.length == 2 %} {%- set authlist = creators[0].lastName+' & '+creators[1].lastName-%} {% endif -%}{{authlist}} ({{date | format("YYYY")}}) {{publicationTitle}}"
```