Tristium, Fantasia Concertante for Viola and String Orchestra, Op. 56 / piano score - Viktor Kalabis
Viktor Kalabis belongs to significant composers of the second half of the 20th century. He composed more than 90 opuses. Many of his compositions were commissioned by interprets or international compositions and festivals.
“Professor Dr. Zdeněk Fencl, university lecturer in microbiology, was a friend of Viktor Kalabis already at grammar school in Jindřichův Hradec. Both felt attached to the beautiful historical town, they kept coming back and a close friendship developed between them and their families (wife Milada Fenclová and Zuzana Růžičková, cembalist and Viktor Kalabis’ wife).
They would spend together almost every day of summer holidays. One day, the friend rang the bell again and, laughing and full of optimism, said that he was diagnosed a serious disease which could be cured though. His work was related to medicine, he knew medicines in development so they all hoped for the best. He fought the insidious disease; the hope rose and disappeared again until it disappeared for good. Kalabis lived through this experience with his friend and he dedicated to him a composition Tristium, elegy, concerto fantasy for viola and the strings, op. 56 and simultaneously he composed a piano reduction. The composition encompasses all the struggles, hopes and despair till the final recognition of irreversibility.
Jiří Pilka in his monography about Kalabis writes: “The strength of inspiration unmistakably shines through this composition. The composition oscillates in the agitational position on the border of life and death. That is the reason for the darker viola voice. Then, in silent concentration, comes the reconciliation with the fate and wise grief. “ Zuzana Růžičková
Parts only for hire at nakladatelstvi@rozhlas.cz
Other compositions by Viktor Kalabis printed in Czech Radio:
Divertimento for Wind Quintet, Op. 10