This preview has been provided by the Asheville Choral Society.
To open its 40th season, the Asheville Choral Society will perform James Whitbourn’s Annelies — the first major choral setting of The Diary of Anne Frank. Frank’s diary has inspired millions since it was published in 1947. Whitbourn’s work premiered in London in 2005 and was praised for its “woundingly beautiful” music and an extraordinary and moving libretto that captures Anne’s keen observations and indomitable spirit. It brings the story to life with echoes of church bells, popular music, and with music from Frank’s Jewish and German heritage.
Artistic Director Dr. Melodie Galloway says, “This beautiful and moving piece, with our knowledge of Anne Frank’s untimely end, will leave singers and audience alike in a mood of poignant contemplation. And yet it tells a crucial story which must be repeated for each new generation, and in the end, thanks to a young girl’s indomitable spirit, still evokes an unforgettable message of hope for all humanity.”
The Annelies concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 8, 2016, at Central United Methodist Church, 27 Church Street in Asheville. Tickets for Annelies can be purchased at ashevillechoralsociety.org or by calling 828.232.2060. Ticket prices are $20 for adults, $10 for students, or $25 at the door. Generous sponsors of the concert include the Asheville Women’s Medical Center and Givens Highlands Farms.
In addition to Annelies, Dr. Galloway has programmed an exciting series of concerts to celebrate the Asheville Choral Society’s 40th season — including Yuletide Candlelight, Mozart March Madness, and a fourth bonus concert, Life and Light, which will be a joint performance with the Asheville Symphony Chorus.
About the Asheville Choral Society
The Asheville Choral Society has garnered a reputation as one of Asheville’s premiere music organizations, praised for the versatility, originality, and challenging nature of its programming. Made up of some 100 volunteer, auditioned singers ranging in age from 18 to 80, the ACS is in its 40th season. The group was founded in 1977 by the late Dr. Robert P. Keener, Music Director Emeritus, who led the group for its first 23 seasons.
