Oskar Morawetz. Canadian Composers Portraits. Toronto: Centrediscs, 2002

Oskar Morawetz. Canadian Composers Portraits. Toronto: Centrediscs, 2002. CMCCD 8702. $20.00. Two compact discs. Disc 1: Morawetz documentary produced and prepared by Eitan Cornfield (55:42). Disc 2: Concerto for Harp and Chamber Orchestra (Gianetta Baril, harp; Edmonton Symphony Orchestra; Uri Mayer, conductor) (26:3 1); String Quartet no. 5, "Tribute to W. A. Mozart" (Orford String Quartet) (17:43); Suite for Piano (Angela Hewitt, piano) (950); The Railway Station (National Youth Orchestra of Canada, John Lubbock, conductor) (1 1:30). Oskar Morawetz has been recognized adjoining room, she reads passages from often for his outstanding achievements. the composer's correspondence with the He is a member of the Order of Canada, Holocaust survivor Otto Frank, father of he was the first composer in Canada to Anne Frank whose diaries inspired receive the Order of Ontario, and he Morawetz to write one of his most holds two Juno Awards. He is also one moving works. The various speakers are of Canada's most recorded and carefully identified at their first performed composers. This two-disc set statements, although sometimes it is in the Canadian Composers Portraits difficult to recognize a voice when it Series combines a full-length reappears later in the documentary. documentary on Morawetz's life and Many of the comments are of a personal career with recordings of four of his nature providing the listener with a compositions. moving and intimate portrait of the composer. The documentary is constructed fiom interviews with family members, The second CD contains four works fiends, performers (notably, Anton written between 1969 and 1991. With Kuerti), and former students (Bruce one work from each decade, it is Mather and Larysa Kuzmenko). It apparent that the repertoire has been begins with an account of Morawetz's carefully and aptly chosen to represent formative years in his native the composer's oeuvre. Although vocal Czechoslovakia and his subsequent music is absent, there is an otherwise emigration to Canada. His harrowing satisflmg balance of genres: a concerto, experiences as a Jew fleeing Europe at a symphonic work, a chamber music the beginning of the war are gripping, work, and a piece for solo piano. Oddly, and they are related powerfully by despite the stated mandate of the series Morawetz himself. The profound to present the composers' "most impact this must have had certainly important works", none of the pieces provides insight into the sombre and listed in the liner notes as being among tragic nature of many of his Morawetz's "most highly regarded" (the compositions. Particularly fascinating Piano Concerto, the Sinfonietta for are the excerpts in which Morawetz's Winds and Percussion, Memorial to daughter Claudia leads a tour through Martin Luther King, and From the Dialy the family house. While showing the of Anne Frank) are included on the CD. composer's studio, she discusses her Since these works (with the exception of father's work habits. Later, in an the Sinfonietta) are those discussed most prominently on the documentary CD, was performed shortly after its premiere their absence on the accompanying CD both by the Toronto Symphony and the is even more conspicuous. Nevertheless, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, an the works that are included also alternate recording would have been represent Morawetz at his best. welcome. The performances, for the most part, My prime concern with this CD is are outstanding. Harpist Gianetta Baril the packaging. I was hstrated by the and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra lack of background information on the under Uri Mayer give a compelling recordings themselves. At the very performance of the Concerto for Harp least, given the historical value of this and Chamber Orchestra. The Orford compilation, the dates and venues of the String Quartet, in its final incarnation, recordings should be provided. For gives a moving rendition of the fifth example, the liner notes state that the string quartet, "Tribute to Mozart". The premiere performance of The Railway work was commissioned by the quartet Station was given by The National to mark the bicentennial of Mozart's Youth Orchestra of Canada on 14 death and its premiere was given as part August 1980. Is this the performance of the group's last public performance. included on the CD? Was the recording Morawetz draws heavily on Mozart's even made in 1980 or does it date from a Requiem, making this work a fitting subsequent year? The design itself is tribute to the Orford String Quartet as unwieldy. Since track numbers are only well. Angela Hewitt's playing in the listed on the back cover, and individual Suite for Piano is bold, polished, and movements only listed in the CD nuanced. The only track that booklet, I found myself switching back disappointed me, albeit only slightly, and forth constantly. Track numbers are was the National Youth Orchestra of not provided at all for the documentary Canada's performance of The Railway material. Instead, the cues are indicated Station. To be sure, this is an orchestra with bullets and there are only ten that I hold in very high esteem, but it is, bullets for eleven tracks (the opening by nature, a training orchestra that meets cue has been omitted). Moreover there for a short time each summer with a is a discrepancy in the timing of the constantly changing personnel. documentary CD. The back cover Although the performance is good, it states, incorrectly, 55 :42 whereas the lacks the precision of a professional booklet gives the correct time of 58: 18. ensemble of seasoned players. There is These, however, are minor complaints. obvious merit in the inclusion of what Overall, this set provides a fascinating one assumes is the first performance of glimpse into the life and music of one of this work by the ensemble for which it Canada's foremost composers. was written. However, since this version is already available on the J. Drew Stephen Anthology of Canadian Music, and University of Toronto since, as the liner notes state, the work .

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