Viktor Kalabis - Allegro impetuoso for Piano

Ivo Kahánek - Piano Viktor Kalabis (1923-2006) was a Czech Composer and husband of harpsichordist Zuzana Růžičková. Kalabis 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 (under Emil Hlobil) and at the Academy of Music and Charles University. He and his wife refused to join the Communist Party, which impeded the beginning of their music careers. Eventually, Kalabis got work in the children’s music section at Prague Radio, where he established the Concertino Praga competition for young musicians. In 1957, Manuel Rosenthal performed Kalabis’ Concert for violoncello op. 8 at the Orchestre de Paris at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, which brought Kalabis new opportunities. His works were commissioned, for example, by the Czech Philharmonic, the Dresden Philharmonic, Camerata Zuric