On receiving the score for this composition, conductor Lawrence Leonard,
who premičred From the Diary of Anne Frank in 1970
with soloist Lois Marshall, wrote to Morawetz:
I was delighted with the score - I have already started work on it,
and find it so rewarding to study a really well written piece - this quite
apart from the quality of the music which I find so profound.
Lawrence Leonard,
1974 |
Morawetz, Lois Marshall holding roses sent by father of Anne Frank, Otto,
and Victor Kugler, who hid the Frank family.
Toronto, 1970. |
Karel Ancerl gave a repeat performance in Toronto with Lois Marshall and the
Toronto Symphony in 1972, and then the musicians presented the Diary
in Carnegie Hall in New York and the Kennedy Centre in Washington. Maestro
Ancerl described the work as "one of the most moving works he had conducted
during the last two decades."
Karel Ancerl |
Karel Ancerl
Photo: Cavouk Portraits |
In 1974, Israeli prime minister Golda Meir made an official visit to Toronto.
On hearing that Morawetz received an award for his composition From the Diary
of Anne Frank from the Segal Foundation in Montreal "as the most important
contribution to Jewish culture and music in Canada", the premier requested the
meeting with Morawetz.
Golda Meir and Morawetz
Photo: Graphic Artists Photographer, 1974 |
Golda Meir and Morawetz, 1974 |
In 1976, Morawetz travelled to Israel to hear the Israel Philharmonic under
the direction of Uri Segal perform the Diary with soloist, soprano
Adi Etzion-Zak.
Morawetz, Adi Etzion-Zak, Uri Segal in Tel Aviv, 1976
In 1977, František Vajnar led the Czech
Philharmonic with soprano Eva Děpoltová in a Prague performance.
František Vajnar
and Morawetz
Prague 1977 |
Eva Děpoltová
and Morawetz
Prague 1977 |
Boris Brott first presented the work with the CBC Festival Orchestra,
and then introduced the work to Winnipeg audiences in 1982 with mezzo Judith Forst.
Boris Brott, 1975
Kazuyoshi Akiyama conducted Vancouver performances of the Diary
in 1983 and 1995, both times with Judith Forst as soloist.
Kazuyoshi Akiyama, Judith Forst, Oskar Morawetz, 1983
Sir Andrew Davis led the Toronto Symphony in a 1987 performance with
soloist Judith Forst.
Sir Andrew Davis and
Morawetz, 1987 |
Judith Forst
and Morawetz,
1987 |
In 1988, mezzo Marilyn Schmiege was soloist with the National Arts
Centre Orchestra and conductor Gabriel Chmura.
Gabriel Chmura, Marilyn Schmiege and Morawetz, Ottawa 1988
Georg Tintner led Symphony Nova Scotia in a performance with soloist Jean Stilwell.
Morawetz, Georg Tintner, Jean Stilwell, 1990.
May 15, 1990. CKDU-FM (Halifax): Michael Wile interviewing Morawetz before the Symphony
Nova Scotia performance:
I
wanted to ask you first if you often come to cities where your works are being
premičred or being performed?
Have
you had a chance to attend some rehearsals?
What
was your inspiration for writing these works; you had obviously read her
diary...
Judith Forst sang the work again in 1991 with Mario Bernardi
conducting the Calgary Philharmonic. In 2001, the two artists recorded the
composition with the CBC Orchestra. The CD won a Juno Award for Best Classical
Composition. On March 21, 2002, they appeared on the CBC-TV presentation
"Opening Night" in a special presentation about the holocaust.
Morawetz, Judith Forst, Mario Bernardi, 1991
Mezzo Sandra Graham sang the Diary with Bramwell Tovey and the
Edmonton Symphony in 1992, and then with Vladimir Ashkenazy conducting
the Cleveland Orchestra in 1995. In December of that year, she sang with the
Toronto Symphony and conductor Jukka-Pekka Saraste.
Bramwell Tovey, Morawetz and Sandra Graham, 1992 |
Morawetz and Vladimir Ashkenazy, 1995 |
Sandra Graham and Morawetz, 1995 |
