Notes and Editorial Reviews
To mark the 90th anniversary of the birth of Viktor Kalabis, one of the most distinguished 20th-century Czech composers, Supraphon is releasing this special selection of his symphonies and concertos. The life of Kalabis and his wife, the renowned harpsichordist Zuzana Ruzickova, was first afflicted by war and subsequently by the straitjacket of the Communist regime. The two forms of lack of freedom would have a marked impact on Kalabis’s work. His Sinfonia pacis, one of the most frequently performed contemporary Czech pieces abroad, reflects the escalating tensions of the Cold War, without the composer succumbing to the clichés of the Communist “peace” proclamations. In connection with Symphony No. 3 (1970-71), its creator talked
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about the anxiety prevailing during the post-occupation years, defiance, as well as the final resignation beneath the unceasing suppression of truth. Kalabis’s works duly enjoyed the attention of renowned orchestras, conductors and soloists (the Berliner Philharmoniker, Matacic, Casadesus, Blomstedt, Rilling, Ancerl, etc). This new selection of recordings bears witness to a superlative composer, as well as the dark atmosphere of the time during which this music came to life. Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Symphony no 3, Op. 33 by Viktor Kalabis
Conductor:
Jiri Belohlávek
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1972; Prague, Czech Republ
Date of Recording: 03/03/1972
Venue: Live Prague
Length: 24 Minutes 32 Secs.
2.
Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings, Op. 42 by Viktor Kalabis
Performer:
Zuzana Ruzicková (Harpsichord)
Conductor:
Viktor Kalabis
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Prague Chamber Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1975; Czech Republic
3.
Concerto for Violin no 1, Op. 17 by Viktor Kalabis
Performer:
Petr Skvor (Violin)
Conductor:
Viktor Kalabis
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Czech Chamber Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1959; Czech Republic
4.
Symphonic Variations, Op. 24 by Viktor Kalabis
Conductor:
Václav Neumann
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1964; Czech Republic
5.
Concerto for Trumpet, Op. 36 "Le tambour de villevieille" by Viktor Kalabis
Performer:
Miroslav Kejmar (Trumpet)
Conductor:
Milos Konvalinka
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
6.
Symphony no 2, Op. 18 "Sinfonia pacis" by Viktor Kalabis
Conductor:
Zdenek Kosler
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
7.
Concerto for Large Orchestra, Op. 25 by Viktor Kalabis
Conductor:
Ladislav Slovák
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
8.
Concerto for Violin no 2, Op. 49 by Viktor Kalabis
Performer:
Josef Suk (Violin)
Conductor:
Wolfgang Sawallisch
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
9.
Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments, Op. 64 by Viktor Kalabis
Performer:
Milan Langer (Piano)
Conductor:
Tomas Koutnik
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra
10.
Concertino for Bassoon and Wind Instruments, Op. 61 by Viktor Kalabis
Performer:
Jiri Formacek (Bassoon)
Conductor:
Milos Formacek
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Czech Philharmonic Wind Ensemble
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