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Although Mstislav Rostropovich commissioned Morawetz to write Memorial to
Martin Luther King, he was not able to give the première due to
restrictions on his leaving his native Russia at the time. However Morawetz and
Rostropovich remained in contact and became good friends.
Conductor Otto-Werner Mueller led the Montreal Symphony in the
première performance with Zara Nelsova as solo cellist in 1975.
Otto-Werner Mueller, 1974 |
Zara Nelsova
Photo: Richard Morawetz |
Morawetz and Nelsova, Banff, 1979 |
In 1976, Boris Brott gave the Toronto première of the work with his brother,
Denis, as soloist.
Boris Brott, 1975
Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi performed Memorial to Martin
Luther King in Banff in 1978 and in Toronto in 1980 under the baton of
Victor Feldbrill, and then again in 1988 in Québec with conductor Simon
Streatfeild.
Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi,
Banff 1974 |
Morawetz and Tsutsumi, 1978 |
Morawetz and Feldbrill,
In front of Morawetz'
home, 1989 |
Simon Streatfeild and Morawetz, 1992 |
Cellist Josef Chuchro and conductor Henryk Czyž gave the Czech
première in 1980.
Josef Chuchro, Morawetz and Henryk Czyž, 1980.
Cellist Anthony Elliott has performed the Memorial to Martin Luther
King on numerous occassions. He first performed the work with conductor
Paul Freeman and the Victoria Symphony in 1982, and in 1985 they repeated
the performance which was broadcast for television on the anniversary of Mr.
King's birthday, January 16, 1986. In this special performance, Canadian
Salute to Martin Luther King, tenor William Brown sang four
spirituals, and Yolanda King, the eldest daughter of Martin Luther King,
was present at the performance, and was the narrator in Aaron Copland's
Lincoln Portrait. Ms. King signed Morawetz' concert program with the words:
To Oskar, What a joy to meet and share with you during an experience that
will keep close to my heart. Blessings! Yolanda King.
In 1992, Mr. Elliott performed the work with conductor Philip Brunelle
and the Minneapolis-Plymouth Festival Orchestra, with the Houston Wind Ensemble
later that year, and in Cleveland the following year. In 2004 he presented the
work once again with the University of Michigan Symphonic Band.
Yolanda King, Morawetz, 1985 |
Anthony Elliott, Yolanda King, William Brown, 1985. |
Morawetz, Anthony Elliott, 1982 |
Morawetz, Philip Brunelle, Anthony Elliott, 1992 |
In 1987, Maestro Kurt Masur presented the Memorial in
Cleveland, with cellist Stephen Geber.
Stephen Geber, Morawetz and Kurt Masur
Cleveland, 1987.
Cellist Shauna Rolston performed the Memorial first with the Edmonton
Symphony in 1989, then in Colorado in 1993 and most recently in the Czech
Republic in 2002.
Shauna Rolston (centre) with parents Tom Rolston and pianist Isobel Moore, Banff 1981.
In 1991, cellist Yo Yo Ma performed the Memorial with Benjamin
Zander and the Boston Philharmonic.
Morawetz and Yo Yo Ma in Morawetz' Toronto home, 1977 |
Benjamin Zander, Morawetz, Yo Yo Ma
Boston 1991 |
Vocalist Bobby McFerrin, Yo Yo Ma, Morawetz
On the same Jan. 1991 program, McFerrin and Ma performed an improvisation
for voice and cello composed by McFerrin. |
Morawetz leaving the stage after taking a bow. |
Ma and Morawetz after concert, 1991. |
In 1993, Yo Yo Ma was engaged for almost
concurrent performances in Toronto and in New York to commemorate 25 years since
Martin Luther King's assassination. In order to be present for both, Ma gave
three performances with Kurt Masur and the New York Philharmonic on
January 7, 8 and 9. He then flew to Toronto to attend the dress rehearsal with
the Toronto Symphony, then back to New York for a final performance on the 12th,
and then once again to Toronto to present three performances on the 13th, 14th
and 15th with Hugh Wolff and the Toronto Symphony. Morawetz followed not
quite as hectic a schedule to attend the dress rehearsals and some of the
performances, but was most impressed by Ma's energy and flawless interpretations
at both venues.
Morawetz and Hugh Wolff,
Toronto 1993 |
Yo Yo Ma and Morawetz,
New York 1993 |
Georg Tintner led Symphony Nova Scotia in a performance in 1992.
Georg Tintner, 1977
Later the same year, Samuel Wong led the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
and cellist Gary Hoffman in two performances.
Morawetz, Samuel Wong and Gary Hoffman, 1992.
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