Pilgrim Festival Chorus Presents Annelies

Pilgrim Festival Chorus (PFC), the region’s principal community chorus, presents two performances of James Whitbourn’s Annelies, on Saturday, April 11 at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, April 12 at 4 pm at The Church of the Pilgrimage (COTP), 8 Town Square in Plymouth. Annelies is conducted by Music Director William B. Richter and features a soprano soloist, accompanied by a chamber ensemble of piano, clarinet, violin and cello.

Based on The Diary of Anne Frank, Annelies is a best known work resulting from the mid-20th century Holocaust. With a libretto by Melanie Challenger, British composer Whitbourn has created a powerful and moving work in 14 movements, the first major setting of the Diary. The music takes us into the mind and heart of a lively and perceptive 13 year-old girl who, with seven other people, lived in hiding in Amsterdam for 25 months and, in the end, was betrayed, taken to a concentration camp, and died at the age of 15. Parts of the work premiered in 2005 as part of the UK’s National Holocaust Day.

A pre-concert talk will be presented by Beth Slepian, The Anne Frank Center USA’s School Programs Manager, speaking about Anne Frank, including her history, family, diary and legacy. By examining Anne Frank’s insightful words within historical context, this short program provides an introduction to Whitbourn’s choral piece and the young writer who inspired his work, while inviting audience members to consider the importance of learning from Anne Frank’s legacy as we confront our own challenges in the 21st Century.

Anne Frank’s spirit of hope and idealism persisted through more than two years of her hiding from the Nazis; her words and legacy have continued to endure and inspire in the 65+ years since her diary was first published. As just one voice of the 1.5 million children, 6 million Jews, and 11 million innocent lives lost during the Holocaust, Frank provides us with a first-hand account of one family’s experiences during the tragic years of Nazi tyranny, while charming readers with her candid moments of self-discovery, introspection, and wonderful sense of humor. Her diary has been published in more than 70 languages, persevering as one of the most widely read works of nonfiction in the world.

“How wonderful it is that no one has to wait, but can start right now to gradually change the world! How wonderful it is that everyone, great and small, can immediately help bring about justice by giving of themselves!” ~ Anne Frank, March 26, 1944

Since 1999, PFC has delighted South Shore audiences with classical programming, currently numbering more than 80 vocalists of all adult ages, dedicated to authentic choral singing. Balancing the season, PFC annually presents a major choral work each spring, a holiday concert and a Messiah Sing in December, and summer concerts with pops-style programming.

Tickets are $20.00 for adults, $18.00 for senior citizens and $15.00 for students over 14. Children under the age of 14 are admitted free. Advance tickets may be purchased online at www.pilgrimfestivalchorus.org; and from PFC members. To reserve tickets by phone, please call Gail at (781) 826-8416. Complimentary refreshments will be served in the church hall immediately following the performance. For more information on the concert or PFC, please visit their website at www.pilgrimfestivalchorus.org, or follow Pilgrim Festival Chorus on Facebook.

About Pilgrim Festival Chorus

The Pilgrim Festival Chorus (PFC) is a volunteer, not-for-profit singing group dedicated to performing choral music in public and private concerts; to providing music education to its members and the public; and to encouraging and promoting the performance of quality choral music. The PFC is funded in part by grants from many of the region’s Cultural Councils, local agencies supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. For more information about PFC, please visit www.pilgrimfestivalchorus.org, or follow Pilgrim Festival Chorus on Facebook.

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