‘A Melancholy Beauty’: Operatic Holocaust story has a happy ending

Varna International Presents
Songs of Life Festival

Sunday, June 26, 2011 3:00 PM
Avery Fisher Hall

Songs of Life Festival Sunday, June 26, 2011 3:00 PM Avery Fisher Hall
Songs of Life Festival will feature the World Premiere performance of a newly-commissioned oratorio, A Melancholy Beauty, depicting the inspiring story of the rescue of all Bulgaria’s Jews during World War II. A Melancholy Beauty is a major choral-orchestral work with a performing force of 300 superb musicians, consisting of children and adult choirs, Bulgarian female folk vocal ensemble, a full symphony orchestra, authentic Bulgarian folk instruments, soloists and narrators. The oratorio was composed by the award-winning Bulgarian composer, Georgi Andreev, who combines classical choral-orchestral music with traditional rhythms and folk styles that are rarely encountered today! The original lyrics composed by librettist Scott Cairns and contributing author Aryeh Finklestein will be conducted by Maestro Henry H. Leck, founder and artistic director of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir.
The performing choirs include: The Indianapolis Children’s Choir, IN; the Philip Kutev National Folklore Ensemble, Bulgaria; KHORIKOS Choir, NY; and The Victor Valley College Singers and Master Arts Chorale, CA. These choirs will be accompanied by the renowned National Philharmonic as they perform the oratorio in celebration of a poignant historical moment. The Festival will also premiere the motet, Whosoever Saves a Single Life, composed by internationally renowned cantor and composer, Charles David Osborne, for mixed choirs.
In addition to the world premiere of A Melancholy Beauty, the participating choirs will each feature an A Cappella program specially selected by the Festival conductors: Henry H. Leck, Jesse Peckham, Thomas Miller, and artistic director Georgi Andreev. Founders, Kalin and Sharon Tchonev, launched Songs of Life, first, as a tribute to the Bulgarian people, which rescued the entire Jewish population from the Nazis. Sharon’s maternal grandparents were among the survivors. Inspired by the heroic acts of the Bulgarian people who risked their lives for their fellow citizens, Kalin and Sharon founded Songs of Life, secondly, to champion the principles of tolerance in the midst of diversity and bravery in the face of prejudice. For more information visit our website: www.songsoflife.org Tel: 803.545.4167