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DEFIANT REQUIEM - VERDI AT TEREZIN
The concert-drama, Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezín, tells the story of the courageous Jewish prisoners in the
Theresienstadt Concentration Camp during World War II who performed the famous Verdi Requiem Mass while
experiencing the depths of human degradation. With only a smuggled score, they performed the famous oratorio
sixteen times, including one performance before senior SS officials from Berlin and a Red Cross delegation.
Conductor Rafael Schächter told the choir, “We will sing to the Nazis what we cannot say to them.”
The concert was conceived and created by Foundation President, Maestro Murry Sidlin. The concert combines
the magnificent music of Verdi with testimony from survivors of the original chorus and footage from a Nazi
propaganda film on Theresienstadt. The performance also includes actors who speak the words of imprisoned
conductor Rafael Schächter and other prisoners. This is not just another performance of the Verdi Requiem,
but a tribute to the inspired leadership of Rafael Schächter who was forced to reconstitute the choir three times
as members were transported to Auschwitz. The performances came to symbolize resistance and defiance
and answering the worst of mankind with the best of mankind. The performance is powerful, dramatic and
inspirational, with a contemporary message of hope.
The story of Terezín unfolds between each section of the Verdi score. The final concert/drama, running two hours
without intermission, explains why the performances in 1943 and 1944 provided a beacon of hope for the prisoner
choir and its audience.
Following a 2010 performance at the Kennedy Center, Washington Post reviewer Stephen Brooks wrote, “Murry
Sidlin’s setting of the music, incorporating film of the camp, interviews with survivors, and actors describing the
dramatic background, was handled with both dignity and power, and pushed the requiem to even more harrowing
depths and exalting heights.”
The Defiant Requiem has been performed at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington
DC, Budapest, Hungary and three times at Terezín as well as
other cities around the United States.
On April 12, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. the 125-member Adult Chorus of
Canterbury Choral Society will be joined by the Oklahoma City
Philharmonic, and will feature soloists, video projection, and
actors from Oklahoma City University. Partnering with
Canterbury is the Jewish Federation of Oklahoma City.
Tickets now on sale by calling 405-232-SING.
From the desk.....
Randi Von Ellefson
The Canterbury Adult Chorus is currently working very hard on the music
for the “Defiant Requiem”. This will be a significant performance for our
community in terms of the music, message and delivery. I KNOW
every one of our supporters and beyond will want to be part of this
amazing experience.
You may enjoy driving or walking by the new OKLAHOMAN building
in downtown OKC. There will be a wonderful, large-scale advertisement
on their Digital Video Screen for this concert. The recording is an excerpt
from Canterbury’s Verdi “Requiem” from almost a decade ago. It is fresh,
vibrant and exciting. This is the energy of Canterbury!! Thanks for being a
part of all we do.
As I plan ahead for upcoming seasons, I am more and more excited. The
rich “feast” of music will leave you excited, breathless and elated. Our new
season brochure will be out soon so please look for it in your mail, online
and in many of the businesses you regularly visit.
Did you know?
Did you know that one of our adult singers,
Jessica Wheeler, was named the Outstanding
Young Music Educator for the State of
Oklahoma by the Oklahoma Music Teachers
Association? Jessica currently teaches at the
Classen School of Advanced Studies Middle
School, and is a former Canterbury Youth
Chorus singer and a great supporter of CYC!
Canterbury Transforms lives!
Did you know that
the CYC Central
Choirs performed
at a recent
Thunder Game?
Canterbury Inspires
Communities!
Did you know during our last
Christmas concert, Margaret
Flansburg shared the stage with
chorale singer and granddaughter,
Catalina Flansburg. Multiple
generations on stage!
Canterbury Educates the Future!
AUDITIONS
Canterbury Youth Choruses
APRIL 21
CENTRAL CHOIR AUDITIONS
APPRENTICE GRADES 2-6
CHORALE GRADES 7-12
OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY
MAY 4
CENTRAL CHOIR AUDITIONS
APPRENTICE GRADES 2-6
CHORALE GRADES 7-12
OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY
MAY 12 NEW SINGER AUDITIONS MOORE
GRADES 2-6
MID AMERICA CHRISTIAN UNIV.
MAY 18
MOORE WEST CHOIR AUDITIONS
GRADES 2-6
MID AMERICA CHRISTIAN UNIV.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
JOANIE GREGORY-PULLEN AT 232-SING.
MAY 19
MOORE CHORALE AUDITIONS
GRADES 7-9
MID AMERICA CHRISTIAN UNIV.
NONPROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
OKLA. CITY OK
PERMIT NO. 1438
Canterbury is a registered
501(c)(3) non-profit
organization. All
donations, ticket sales and
tuition enable the organization to provide high quality
programming, essential staff
and education and outreach
opportunities throughout the
state of Oklahoma.