The Vancouver Academy of Music (VAM) shares Renia Perel's poignant musical drama Songs of the Wasteland on January 26, 2016 at 7:30pm at the Koerner Recital Hall (1270 Chestnut Street). Falling on the eve of UN International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the poetic work gathers a chamber ensemble of VAM faculty and leading Vancouver musicians to share a true story of survival and pay tribute to the millions who were killed and lost.
"It was a great honour for all of us at VAM to be approached by Mrs. Perel with the invitation to present this work," said Joseph Elworthy, Executive Director of the Vancouver Academy of Music. "The January concert will mark only the second time this important piece has been given a live performance. We are humbled by this opportunity to contribute our own modicum of respect and remembrance to a tragedy that must never be forgotten." Songs of the Wasteland conjures the sorrow of the Holocaust, underlined with sentiments of hope and healing, by drawing on musical and linguistic fragments of pre-WWII European Jewish culture. The memoir and musical tribute is divided into two parts. The first, 'From Tragedy to Triumph', opens with Psalm 23: Verse 4 (Yea tho I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me), and offers songs of remembrance for those who died in concentration camps, children who were lost in the ghettos, and for Perel's own family.Videos