Viktor Kalabis

Viktor Kalabis ( born February 27, 1923 in Cerveny Kostelec, † September 28, 2006 in Prague) was a Czech composer.

Life

Viktor Kalabis already appeared publicly at age six as a pianist. A study of music was only after the German occupation ( during which he required to work in an aircraft factory was ) possible. From 1945 Kalabis studied musicology at Prague's Charles University and composition at the Conservatory with Emil Hlobil. 1948-1952 joined a study at the Academy of Performing Arts in Jaroslav Řídký. The doctoral thesis of Kalabis ( about Bartók and Stravinsky ), who refused to join the Communist Party, but was not recognized until 1991. Between 1953 and 1972 he worked as an editor and music director at the Czechoslovak Radio in Prague. After that, he lived as a freelance composer. 1990-2003 was Kalabis President of the Bohuslav Martinů Foundation, also the founder of the Bohuslav Martinů Institute.

Kalabis was married with harpsichordist Zuzana Růžičková since 1952.

Works

The music of Kalabis is close to the neo-classicism. His individual style is less conciliatory than that of older colleagues Martinů, for whose work Kalabis campaigned heavily. In addition to time and again by sounding models like Honegger, Bartók and Stravinsky, he referred in individual plants also elements of twelve-tone music and serialism, while influences of the folk music of his homeland in the early work found more precipitation.

Viktor Kalabis among other things wrote 5 symphonies ( the No. 2 " Sinfonia Pacis" was awarded the 1969 State Prize ), several concertos - Piano Concerto No. 1 and a harpsichord concert his wife Zuzana Růžičková are dedicated - and chamber music ( including 7 string quartets ).