Know Your Musician Series - 17

February - 27

Viktor Kalabis (1923–2006) was a Czech composer. Born in ČervenýKostelec, a town in the Czech Republic, on 27 February 1923, Kalabis was an important 20th century Czech composer. Viktor was interested in music from a young age, but due to the Nazi occupation of Prague during the Second World War, he was unable to study music in Prague. After the end of the war, Kalabis studied at the Prague Conservatory and at the Academy of Music and Charles University. In 1952, Kalabis married ZuzanaRůžičková, who became a famous harpsichord player. They both refused to join the Communist party, making the beginning of their music careers difficult. Eventually, Viktor got work in the children's music section at Prague Radio. It was in this post that he established the now internationally known Concertino Praga competition for young musicians.

He truly established himself as an international composer when in 1957; Manuel Rosenthal performed Kalabis' Concert for violoncello op. 8 at the Orchestera de Paris at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées. Many of his works were commissioned, for example, by the Czech Phil harmony, the Dresden Phil harmony, Camerata Zurich, Josef Suk, The Suk Trio, János Starker, Maurice André, The Prague Spring Festival and many others. His composition Sinfoniapacis is one of the world's most-played Czech contemporary music compositions.