KALABIS V. (1923-2006) SYMPHONIES AND CONCERTOS / CPO, PSO, PRSO / J.Suk, P.Škvor violin

VIKTOR KALABIS (1923-2006)

CD 1

Symphony No. 2 "Sinfonia pacis" for Large Orchestra, Op.18 27:48

1. I. Andante moderato 8:04

2. II. Allegro molto e drammatico 7:27

3. III. Andante, molto quieto (attacca) 6:39

4. IV. Allegro comodo e giocoso 5:31

Concerto No. 1 for Violin and Orchestra, Op.17 21:35

5. I. Maestoso. Andante 8:24

6. II. Andante angoscioso. Quasi adagio 6:43

7. III. Allegro vivace 6:22

8. Symphonic Variations for Large Orchestra, Op.24 12:59

Petr Škvor - violin (5-7)

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Zdeněk Košler (1-4), Václav Neumann (8)

Prague Symphony Orchestra, conductor Viktor Kalabis (5-7)

CD 2

Concerto for Large Orchestra (Concerto per grande orchestra), Op.25 28:22

1. I. Allegro 5:55

2. II. Adagio 6:52

3. III. Allegro assai 7:26

4. IV. Allegro vivo 7:59

Symphony No. 3 for Large Orchestra, Op.33 26:09

5. I. Molto moderato 8:03

6. II. Allegro molto drammatico 10:40

7. III. Adagio molto e quieto 7:16

Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra "Le tambour de villevieille", Op.36 18:01

8. I. Allegretto moderato 6:10

9. II. Andante - Vivo - Andante - Allegro vivo 11:45

Miroslav Kejmar - trumpet (8-9)

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Ladislav Slovák (1-4), Jiří Bělohlávek (5-7)

Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, conductor Miloš Konvalinka (8-9)

CD 3

Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings, Op.42 27:25

1. I. Allegro leggiero 8:12

2. II. Andante 8:32

3. III. Allegro vivo 10:33

4. Concerto No. 2 for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 49 15:15

5. Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments, Op. 64 22:11

Allegro vivo - Andante - Poco vivo

6. Concertino for Bassoon and Wind Instruments, Op. 61 12:38

Zuzana Růžičková harpsichord (1-3), Josef Suk violin (4), Milan Langer piano (5), Jiří Formáček bassoon (6)

Prague Chamber Orchestra, conductor Viktor Kalabis (1-3)

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Wolfgang Sawallisch (4)

Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, conductor Tomáš Koutník (5)

Czech Philharmonic Wind Ensemble, conductor Miloš Formáček (6)

Recorded at the Rudolfinum, Prague, October 7 and 12, 1987 (CD1/1-4), February 9, 1968 (CD1/8), April 14 and 16, 1971 (CD2/1-4), November-December, 1972 (CD2/5-7), live March 28, 1976 (CD2/8-9), January 6, 1980 (CD3/1-3), live June 19, 1980 (CD3/4), at the Prague Radio, November 30, 1984 (CD1/5-7), November 11-19, 1991 (CD3/5), in the Municipal Library, Prague, March 22, 1985 (CD3/6).

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 Růžičková, 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 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, Matačić, Casadesus, Blomstedt, Rilling, Ančerl, 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.

Viktor Kalabis's symphonies and concertos - the legacy of a distinct composer and a fraught era.

(Supraphon 2013)