Pianist

circa 1940/1950

Although Morawetz now considered himself primarily a composer, he never gave up his love for the piano. He used the piano for composing, teaching and just plain enjoyment. Occasionally he also performed, although these appearances became rarer as he grew older and more prolific as a composer.

Below are some of the concert appearances made by Morawetz as a pianist. Only the program items which Morawetz performed are listed.

Oct. 26, 1940. Church of All Nations, Toronto
J. Suk, Píseň lásky
A. Dvořák, Z poetických nálad

Jan. 11, 1941. Margaret Eaton Hall, Toronto
        In aid of the Canadian Red Cross
Accompanying singer Alice Kozner:
    Rode, Concerto in A minor, 1st movement
    Svendsen, Romance
    Severn, Polish Dance
Accompanying singer Marshall Romaniuk:
    Bach-Gounod, Ave Maria
    Fiocco, Allegro
    Dvořák-Kreisler, Slavonic Dance

Nov. 27, 1941. Technical School Auditorium, Ottawa.
        Sponsored on behalf of the Czechoslovak National Alliance
Accompanying violinist Soňa Pečmanova:
    A. Dvořák, Sonatina for violine and piano, op. 100
Accompanying baritone Walter Schmolka:
    A. Dvořák, By the Waters of Babylon
    A. Dvořák, Sing Ye a Joyful Song
    A. Dvořák, Kolyas (Heroic Song)
Accompanying violinist Soňa Pečmanova:
    B. Smetana, Z domoviny (From the Homeland)
Accompanying baritone Walter Schmolka:
    B. Smetana, Invitation
    A. Dvořák, Gipsy Song No. 5, Op. 55
    Three Czech Folk Songs

Announcement of concert
Dedication (translation from Czech):
Oskar Morawetz
with many thanks
Jan Masaryk, 29 . XI . 41

Dec. 11, 1941. Eaton Auditorium, Toronto
        Under the auspices of the Czechoslovak National Alliance
Accompanying violinist Soňa Pečmanova:
    A. Dvořák, Sonatina for violine and piano, op. 100
Accompanying baritone Walter Schmolka:
    A. Dvořák, By the Waters of Babylon
    A. Dvořák, Sing Ye a Joyful Song
    A. Dvořák, Kolyas (Heroic Song)
Accompanying violinist Soňa Pečmanova:
    B. Smetana, Z domoviny (From the Homeland)
Accompanying baritone Walter Schmolka:
    B. Smetana, Invitation
    A. Dvořák, Gipsy Song
    Four Czechoslovak Folk Songs

Apr. 17, 1942. Eaton Auditorium, Toronto
        Under the auspices of the Czechoslovak Gymnastic Association "Sokol"
    A. Dvořák, Holy Mount
    J. Suk, Love Song
    A. Dvořák, Goblin Dance

Sep. 16, 1942. Vocational School auditorium, Fort William
       Sponsored by the Czechoslovak National Alliance

Accompanying violinist Soňa Pečmanova:
    A. Dvořák, Sonatina for violine and piano, op. 100
Accompanying singer Walter Schmolka:
    A. Dvořák, By the Waters of Babylon
    A. Dvořák, Sing Ye a Joyful Song
    A. Dvořák, Kolyas (Heroic Song)
Solo:
    V. Novak, Sonata Eroica
Accompanying violinist Soňa Pečmanova:
    B. Smetana, Z domoviny (From the Homeland)
Accompanying baritone Walter Schmolka:
    B. Smetana, Invitation
    A. Dvořák, Gipsy Song
    Four Czechoslovak Folk Songs

Sep. 17, 1942.
The Fort William Daily Times Journal

Sep. 17, 1942.
The Port Arthur News-Chronicle

Oct. 16, 1942. Royal Connaught Hotel, Hamilton
        Sponsored by the Czechoslovak National Alliance
Accompanying violinist Soňa Pečmanova:
    A. Dvořák, Sonatina for violine and piano, op. 100
Accompanying singer Walter Schmolka:
    A. Dvořák, By the Waters of Babylon
    A. Dvořák, Sing Ye a Joyful Song
    A. Dvořák, Kolyas (Heroic Song)
Accompanying violinist Soňa Pečmanova:
    B. Smetana, Z domoviny (From the Homeland)
Accompanying baritone Walter Schmolka:
    B. Smetana, Invitation
    A. Dvořák, Gipsy Song
    Three Czechoslovak Folk Songs

May 7, 1943. Eaton Auditorium, Toronto
        Proceeds to the Czechoslovak War Charities Fund
Accompanying baritone Walter Schmolka:
    B. Smetana, Praise of Song
    A. Dvořák, O, Give Me Peace
    R. Nekola, Prayer (première performance)
    Russian Army Songs
    Czechoslovak Folk Songs
Solo:
    V. Novak, Sonata Eroica (Canadian première performance)

1945. Niagara Falls
        The Listening Group of Niagara Falls presents Oskar Morawetz, pianist
    Schubert, Impromptu
    Franck, Prelude, Chorale and Fugue
    Chopin, Two Mazurkas
    Chopin, Valse, A Flat
    Chopin, Polonaise, C Minor

    Smetana, Hulan
    Suk, Love Song
    Novák, Sonata Eroica
    Brahms, 2 Intermezzi
    Mendelssohn, Song Without Words
    Weber, Rondo Brilliante

Mar. 8, 1945. Recreation Hall, Batawa, Ontario
        Czechoslovak National Alliance and "Sokol" Batawa in honour of T.G.Masaryk
Solo:
    V. Novak, Sonata Eroica
    J. Suk, Love Song
    B. Smetana, Hulan (Cavalryman)

Mar. 10, 1945. Wentworth Technical School
        In commemoration of the birthday of Thomas G. Masaryk
        Proceeds in aid of the Czechoslovak War Charities Fund in Canada
Solo:
    Vitezslav Novak, Sonata Eroica
Accompanying Walter Schmolka:
    Bohuslav Martinu, Czechoslovakian folk poems
Solo:
    Joseph Suk, Love Song
    Bedrich Smetana, Hulan

Mar. 24, 1945. CBC Morawetz, Sonata Tragica (première)
		1945. unknown

Mar. 7, 1947. CBC Toronto
Accompanying baritone Nicolas Goldschmidt:
    Morawetz, The Fly (première)
    Morawetz, Grenadier (première)
    Morawetz, The Chimney Sweeper (première)
    Morawetz, Mad Song (première)
    Morawetz, Piping Down the Valleys Wild (première)

Mar. 24, 1948. Eaton Auditorium, Toronto
Accompanying soprano Elizabeth Benson Guy:
Morawetz, Elegy (première)

Sep. 8, 1949. Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto
Accompanying marimbist Muriel Kilby
    Lalo, Symphonie Espagnole, Rondo
    arr. Kilby, Group of English Folk Songs
    Josef Suk, Burleska

Oct. 19, 1949. CBC, Toronto
Accompanying soprano Elizabeth Benson Guy:
    Morawetz, Land of Dreams (première)
    Morawetz, I Love the Jocund Dance (première)
    Morawetz, When We Two Parted (première)

Nov. 7, 1949. Forest Hill Collegiate, Toronto
    V. Novak, Sonatina No. V
    Morawetz, Scherzo
    Suk, Love Song
    Morawetz, Tarantella (première)
    C.M. von Weber, Rondo Brilliante

Nov. 21, 1954. Great Hall, Hart House, Toronto
Accompanying bass Jan Rubeš:
    Handel, Ombra mai fu, from "Xerses"
    Haydn, Aria from "The Creation"
    Schubert, The Wanderer
    Dvořák, My Song Resounds
    Flégier, The Horn
    Mozart, Leporello's Aria from "Don Giovanni"
Solo:
    Josef Suk, Love Song
    Morawetz, Scherzo
Accompanying bass Jan Rubeš:
    Suite of Czechoslovakian Folk Songs
    Russel, Gypsy River
    Mussorgsky, Song of the Flea

1954/1955. New York
Accompanying bass Jan Rubeš:
    Handel, Ombra mai fu, from "Xerses"
    Haydn, Aria from "The Creation"
    Dvořák, God Is My Shepherd
    Schubert, Der Wanderer
    Tschaikowsky, Pilgrim's Song
    Flégier, The Horn
    Verdi, Aria "Il lacerato spirito" from "Simon Boccanegra"
    Mozart, "Madamina" from "Don Giovanni"
Solo:
    Josef Suk, Love Song
    Morawetz, Scherzo
Accompanying bass Jan Rubeš:
    Suite of Czechoslovakian Folk Songs
    Kennedy Russel, Gypsy River
    Ada Richter, The Rag Man
    Richard Rodgers, This Nearly Was Mine from "South Pacific"

1955. RCI
Morawetz, Scherzino (première)

1956. CBC, Toronto
Accompanying baritone James Milligan
Morawetz, To The Ottawa River (première)

Sep. 9, 1956. CBC, Toronto
Accompanying soprano Roma Butler:
Morawetz, Sonnets from the Portuguese (première)

May 14, 1957. CBC, Toronto
Accompanying soprano Roma Butler:
Morawetz, Mother I Cannot Mind My Wheel (première)
Morawetz, My True Love Hath My Heart (première)

Jan. 19, 1958. Casa Loma, Toronto
Morawetz, Fantasy and Elegy

Jan. 6, 1962. Eaton Auditorium, Toronto Accompanying violinist Charles Dobias: Dvořák, Sonatina for violin and piano in G major, op. 100 Four hands with Walter Susskind: Dvořák, Slavonic Dances: op.46, no.7; op.72, no.2; op.46, no.6
		Jan. 6, 1962. The Globe and Mail by Ralph Hicklin Jan. 8, 1962. The Toronto Daily Star by Udo Kasemets Jan 1962. Unknown by Frank Haworth

Sep. 7, 1963. Maple Leaf Ballroom, Westbury Hotel, Toronto
Compositions for piano, played by the composer, Oskar Morawetz

May 5, 1968. Masaryk House, Toronto
Accompanying soprano Sally Birkett:
Morawetz, Piping Down the Valleys Wild
Morawetz, I Love the Jocund Dance

Aug. 6, 1978. Margaret Greenham Theatre, Banff, Alberta Accompanying baritone Alexander Gray: Morawetz, Elegy Morawetz, Grenadier Morawetz, The Chimney Sweeper Morawetz, Mad Song Morawetz, Piping Down the Valleys Wild
		Aug. 8, 1978. The Calgary Herald by Eric Dawson Aug. 16, 1978. Edmonton Journal by Jamie Portman

May 16, 1979. Chalmers Church, Guelph
Accompanying baritone Daniel Lichti:
    Morawetz, Elegy
    Morawetz, Grenadier
    Morawetz, The Chimney Sweeper
    Morawetz, Mad Song

Mar. 17, 1980. Church of the Holy Trinity, Toronto. Accompanying contralto Maureen Forrester: Morawetz, Psalm 22 (première)
		Mar. 18, 1980. The Toronto Star by Ronald Hambleton Mar. 27, 1980. The Canadian Jewish News by Rick Kardonne

Aug. 10, 1981. Margaret Greenham Theatre, Banff, Alberta
Accompanying mezzo Gail Dubinbaum:
    Morawetz, Elegy
    Morawetz, The Chimney Sweeper
    Morawetz, Mad Song
    Morawetz, Cradle Song

Mar. 29, 1982. Toronto
Accompanying soprano Marta Collins:
Morawetz, Sonnets from the Portuguese

Jan. 16, 1982. Walter Hall, Toronto An Evening with Oskar: A Celebration of Oskar Morawetz' 65th birthday Morawetz, To the Ottawa River Morawetz, Elegy Morawetz, Grenadier Morawetz, The Chimney Sweeper Morawetz, Mad Song
		Jan. 18, 1982 The Toronto Star by Ronald Hambleton Jan. 18, 1982 The Globe and Mail by John Kraglund

Oct. 4, 1983. Recital Hall, University of Western Ontario
Accompanying baritone Peter Wall:
    Morawetz, To the Ottawa River
    Morawetz, Elegy
    Morawetz, Grenadier
    Morawetz, The Chimney Sweeper
    Morawetz, Mad Song

Feb. 22, 1985. O.I.S.E. Building, Toronto.
Sponsored by the Czechoslovak Women's Council of Canada
Accompanying baritone Jan Rubeš
[program not available]

Oct. 2, 1986. Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C. Oct. 6, 1986. Abraham Goodman Hall, N.Y. Accompanying baritone Jerome Barry: Morawetz, To the Ottawa River Morawetz, Elegy Morawetz, Grenadier Morawetz, The Chimney Sweeper Morawetz, Mad Song
		Oct. 4, 1986. Washington Post by Joseph McLellan Oct. 9, 1986. The New York Times by Will Crutchfield

Oct. 27, 1988. Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute, Toronto
        A Celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Declaration of Czechoslovak Independence
Accompanying sopranos Nina Mattei and Maria Matejcek-Mattei, and bass, Michael Šust:
    O Canada
    Kde domov muj
    Nad Tatrou sa blýská
Accompanying soprano Maria Matejcek-Mattei:
    Dvořák, Lord is my shepherd
Accompanying bass, Michael Šust:
    Arias and Songs
Solo:
    Morawetz, Scherzo
Accompanying soprano Nina Mattei:
    Smetana, Marenka's aria from the Bartered Bride

Dec. 9, 1989. St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Toronto
Concert for the Czech community
on the occasion of the freedom from communism in Eastern Europe.
Poems, songs and stories read and sung by members of Czech community,
Piano accompaniment provided by Oskar Morawetz.
Attended by President Václav Havel.

Feb. 19, 1990. Convocation Hall, University of Toronto To award individuals from the Czech and Slovak community Attended by Mr. Václav Havel, President of Czechoslovakia Providing organ accompaniment for sopranos, Nina Mattei and Maria Matejcek-Mattei, and bass, Michael Šust: Kde domov muj Nad Tatrou sa blýská O Canada	Morawetz at organ, President Havel in front of him.
May 15, 1990. CKDU-FM (Halifax): Interviewer Dr. Walter Kemp asks Morawetz to describe the humorous variation he wrote of Smetana's Bartered Bride to honour President Havel becoming the first democratic leader of the Czech Republic.
Oct. 12, 1990. St. Lawrence Hall, Toronto Accompanying bass Michael Šust: Ach, synku, synku Teče voda, teče Dvořák, Jakobín-árie purkrabího Smetana, Dalibor-žalářníkova árie Dvořák, Jakobín-My cizinou jsme bloudili	Morawetz and Šust, taking a bow

Apr. 28, 1991. Olga Korper Gallery, Toronto
Canadian Friends of Lidove Noviny Gala Brunch
Oskar Morawetz, Jan Rubes, Anton Kubalek performing
[program not available]

Mar. 28, 1992. Victoria College, Toronto
In celebration of the 400th anniversary of birth of Komensky, famous Czech educator
[program not available]

Morawetz in performance

organist Dagmar Kopecký,
violinist Ivan Ženatý,
pianist Anton Kubalek,
Oskar Morawetz

Sep. 16, 1942. Vocational School auditorium, Fort William Sponsored by the Czechoslovak National Alliance
Accompanying violinist Soňa Pečmanova: A. Dvořák, Sonatina for violine and piano, op. 100 Accompanying singer Walter Schmolka: A. Dvořák, By the Waters of Babylon A. Dvořák, Sing Ye a Joyful Song A. Dvořák, Kolyas (Heroic Song) Solo: V. Novak, Sonata Eroica Accompanying violinist Soňa Pečmanova: B. Smetana, Z domoviny (From the Homeland) Accompanying baritone Walter Schmolka: B. Smetana, Invitation A. Dvořák, Gipsy Song Four Czechoslovak Folk Songs
		Sep. 17, 1942. The Fort William Daily Times Journal Sep. 17, 1942. The Port Arthur News-Chronicle