Viktor Kalabis (1923-2006)

[Symphonic Addict]

There's no any thread dedicated to this outstanding Czech composer, so I just created one. He was one of the most interesting composers to come from Czechoslovakia in my view. His music is often permeated by motoric rhythms, gritty harmonies and haunting atmospheres. In 1952 he married Zuzana Růžičková who would be a renowned harpsichordist (both appear on the photo above). He wrote symphonies, concertos, chamber music (including 7 stupendous string quartets), piano music, etc.

What encouraged me to post about him was this three-CD set which gathers together some of his orchestral and concertante works:



I was listening to his Concerto for orchestra, op. 25 and Harpsichord Concerto, op. 42 (written for his wife; the aforementioned recording features both the composer and harpsichordist conducting and playing respectively) and they excited me a lot. The gritty and energetic aspect of his style is on full display on both pieces. Particularly impressed by the slow movement of the Harpsichord Concerto which is quite haunting and somewhat phantasmagorical.

Some folks on here have his Symphony No. 2 'Sinfonia pacis' in high esteem (as I do too) and I consider it a good entry point to his oeuvre.

[Daverz]

And there is this companion box on MSR Classics with no duplications.



PROGRAM
VIKTOR KALABIS (1923-2006)
Piano Concerto No.1
Symphony No.4
Symphony No.5
Two Worlds - Ballet Music
Chamber Music for Strings
Divertimento for Wind Quintet
String Quartet No.2
Canonic Inventions for Harpsichord
Sonata for Violin and Harpsichord
Trio for Piano, Violin and Violoncello
Sonata for Trombone and Piano
RELEASED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH SUPRAPHON A.S. PRAGUE

https://www.msrcd.com/catalog/cd/MS1350

[T. D.]

I own and can recommend the MSR box.
Also this string quartet set. Granted I'm kind of a string quartet buff, but I feel Kalabis's are of more than marginal interest.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

And there is this companion box on MSR Classics with no duplications.



PROGRAM
VIKTOR KALABIS (1923-2006)
Piano Concerto No.1
Symphony No.4
Symphony No.5
Two Worlds - Ballet Music
Chamber Music for Strings
Divertimento for Wind Quintet
String Quartet No.2
Canonic Inventions for Harpsichord
Sonata for Violin and Harpsichord
Trio for Piano, Violin and Violoncello
Sonata for Trombone and Piano
RELEASED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH SUPRAPHON A.S. PRAGUE

https://www.msrcd.com/catalog/cd/MS1350

With his wife playing on it. 

PD

[T. D.]

Having a taste for the offbeat, I enjoy the Sonata for Trombone and Piano, which is on the MSR set and likely elsewhere.

[Scion7]

I'd never 'eard of 'im, but there are many composers we never bump into "normally." 

the New Grove (which lists a considerably gob of compositions for the bloke):

(b Červený Kostelec, nr Náchod, 27 Feb 1923). Czech composer. He studied with Hlobil at the Prague Conservatory (1945–8) and with Řídký at the Academy of Musical Arts (1952). During this period he also studied philosophy and musicology at Prague University, taking the doctorate there in 1991. Between 1953 and 1972 he was editor and music producer at Czechoslovak Radio. In 1972 he abandoned other commitments to devote his time to composition.
Kalabis's rapid rise to prominence as a composer is an accurate reflection of his intellectual and creative abilities. After an initial period characterized by his admiration for music of the late Romantic period his own music acquired a neo-classical sense of form and expressive means, as evidenced by the First Piano Concerto (1954). This new development reached full maturity and poise in the First Symphony (1957). His compositional values and philosophical perspective have made him one of the leading figures in Czech music during the second half of the 20th century. Of his generation of composers he was the first whose music became known abroad. Many of his works have been composed to commission, including the Concerto for Orchestra for the Czech PO, the Fourth Symphony for the Dresden Staatskapelle, Canticum canticorum for the Gächinger Kantorei, the Second Violin Concerto for Josef Suk and Dialogy for János Starker; the First Piano Concerto and Harpsichord Concerto were commissioned for his wife Zuzana Růžičková. Kalabis's output – modest in size on account of his methodical and careful approach – contains music that is perfectly formed, displaying a feel for structure and proportion. .... Kalabis has a talent for producing striking sonorities and using timbre and large instrumental forces effectively (e.g. Concerto for Orchestra). His music enjoys wide recognition: the Sinfonia pacis is one of the most frequently performed contemporary Czech works worldwide and performances of the Harpsichord Concerto have been given at major international concert halls. He has received many awards from his homeland, including the State Prize (1969) and the honorary title Artist of Merit (1983).

[Scion7]

There's no any thread dedicated to this outstanding Czech composer...

And thanks for adding to my already miserable UMDD! 

[Symphonic Addict]

I own and can recommend the MSR box.
Also this string quartet set. Granted I'm kind of a string quartet buff, but I feel Kalabis's are of more than marginal interest.

Agreed, there's a sort of viscerality and intensity in those quartets that they shouldn't leave indifferent to anyone who wants to try them.

[Symphonic Addict]

And thanks for adding to my already miserable UMDD! 

Some of his later stuff is tougher and more challenging, so I recommend to start exploring his early pieces the first.

[Scion7]

Listened to the 1st and 3rd piano sonatas. Can't say I enjoyed them - they seem more like playing-exercises than "tunes."  On to the sonatas for cello, violin, et al ....

[kyjo]

I hold his Symphony no. 2 Sinfonia pacis in very high esteem. It contains music of great intensity and drama but also passages of lyricism and hopefulness to contrast, and is written in an idiom that is personal yet "familiar". I need to explore more of his output, though I do recall trying his 4th Symphony at some point and finding it to be pretty tough going.

[Scion7]

The other chamber pieces I sampled I liked much better, but it appears his personal medium was orchestral stuff - these seem very successful. Strange that Suk (the younger) championed his music but somehow I never came across an album of his playing a Kalabis work - Supraphon, why you do this to me back in the day?? 

[Scion7]

Disc 3 has some very nice stuff.
I think Beethoven would have smiled at the Sonata for trombone/piano. Abstract like his late string quartets and driving rhythmically at times.  Unfortunately this sounds very much like a transfer from vinyl (unless there is a lot of chair/sheet music turning going on that got picked up), even for a live recording - maybe the masters are damaged/missing/burned by the Reds? 

btw -- Op.3:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFF0iY3IsVc

[Daverz]

Listened to the 1st and 3rd piano sonatas. Can't say I enjoyed them - they seem more like playing-exercises than "tunes."  On to the sonatas for cello, violin, et al ....

The Supraphon disc with the sonatas for clarinet, cello and violin is fantastic.

[Scion7]

I don't believe this Suite is available commercially?

Suite for Clarinet & Piano, Op.55 (1981):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOTnmgmNQoQ

Egads! I stand corrected:

[pjme]

Czech composer Jan Fila has a great Youtube channel and plenty of unknown/lesser known recordings of mostly Czech composers, including a fragment of Kalabis unfinished 5th symphony.

https://www.youtube.com/@JanFila/featured

[vandermolen]

Pleased to see this thread.
I rate Symphony No.2 'Sinfonia Pacis' very highly - one of many LP discoveries I made, decades ago, from the Kensington High St Record Library in London:
I also have this interesting recording in addition to the Supraphon CD:

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Czech composer Jan Fila has a great Youtube channel and plenty of unknown/lesser known recordings of mostly Czech composers, including a fragment of Kalabis unfinished 5th symphony.

https://www.youtube.com/@JanFila/featured

Oh, cool!  Thanks for pointing out this channel.  I look forward to checking it out.   

PD

[calyptorhynchus]

I listened to some Kalabis works a few years ago and I noted then that I liked the symphonies and string quartets.

I'll have to move some of these nearer the top of the listening pile 

[Symphonic Addict]

Czech composer Jan Fila has a great Youtube channel and plenty of unknown/lesser known recordings of mostly Czech composers, including a fragment of Kalabis unfinished 5th symphony.

https://www.youtube.com/@JanFila/featured

It was recorded on Supraphon:

Another YouTube channel has his Symphony No. 1 which is not officially recorded yet (apparently):