Ensemble presents ‘Annelies’
Over the next two weekends, Musaic Vocal Ensemble will present ‘Annelies’, by UK composer James Whitbourn. Under the direction of Tracy Stuchbery, Musaic Vocal Ensemble is a group of enthusiastic and committed local South Okanagan singers based out of Summerland.
The members of Musaic feel privileged to have the opportunity of presenting this beautiful and poignant story to the communities of the South Okanagan.
Local guests artists in this production include soprano Mia Harris, cellist Olivia Walsh, violinist Sarah Anderson, oboe player Pamela Parenty and pianist Dennis Nordlund.
“Annelies” is a stunning and poignant 75-minute choral work for soprano soloist, choir and instrumentalists.
The libretto is compiled and translated by Melanie Challenger from "Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl." Annelies is the full
forename of Anne Frank. The work was premiered in April 2005 in London.
Anne Frank died alone of illness and starvation at the age of 15 in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, Germany, sometime in early March, 1945, thirty–two months after she and her family and the others had first gone into hiding in the annex, eight months after being exposed and captured, and a mere two months before the war ended in Europe.
The work was praised by the Anne Frank Center in New York City.
“Anne’s legacy challenges each of us to ask ourselves: what can we do to confront prejudice and discrimination within ourselves, in our schools, family, and society?,” said Beth Slepian from the Anne Frank Center.
"Bringing Anne Frank’s story into our communities helps teach us all to respect one another in a shared environment. It teaches us to celebrate diversity rather than view differences as obstacles. It teaches us to be proactive and to help those in need. And as idealistic as it may sound, we, like Anne, believe that in spite of everything, people are truly good at heart.”
Tickets for all four productions are on sale now at The Dragon’s Den on Front Street, James on Kelly in Summerland and, for the Oliver show, online at: venablestheatre.ca. Tickets are $20 (adults) and $5 (students).
The ensemble will perform Saturday at St. Saviour’s Anglican Church in Penticton at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at St. John's Anglican Church in Summerland, beginning at 2:30 p.m.
Future shows are Friday, April 28 at Frank Venables Theatre in Oliver at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 29 at St. Michael and All Angels Cathedral at 608 Sutherland Ave. in Kelowna at 7:30 p.m.