[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 78 (Thursday, June 2, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1017]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 KENNEDY CENTER JUNE 21, 2011 PERFORMANCE SONGS OF LIFE CELEBRATES THE 
LARGEST RESCUE OF JEWS DURING THE HOLOCAUST WITH THE WORLD-PREMIERE OF 
                  THE ORATORIO ``A MELANCHOLY BEAUTY''

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 2, 2011

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to announce 
that on June 21st, the oratorio, A Melancholy Beauty, will premier at 8 
p.m. at the Kennedy Center in Washington (Concert Hall). The oratorio 
is a choral-orchestral work for mixed choir, children's choir, symphony 
orchestra, soloists, narrator, folk vocal ensemble, and indigenous folk 
instruments. It is dedicated to the Rescue of Bulgaria's 49,000 Jews by 
ordinary citizens during the Holocaust of World War II. The oratorio 
traces this event chronologically through the language of music in 
seven movements.
  Songs of Life is an international music festival that reenacts the 
heroic deeds of little-known events by composing and performing choral-
orchestral works for those who have not yet had a voice to sing their 
song. On the 65th anniversary of the rescue of Bulgaria's Jews, the 1st 
edition of Songs of Life debuted in four cities of Israel and Bulgaria 
featuring ``Sacred Service'' by Ernest Bloch with the participation of 
the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, The Raanana Symphonette Orchestra, 
choirs from Israel, Bulgaria, Canada, and America.
  A Melancholy Beauty ``echoes a thank you, paying tribute to the brave 
Bulgarian people and offering a source of inspiration, hope and change 
for people everywhere today,'' said Kalin Tchonev, who together with 
his wife, Sharon, founded Songs of Life in 2008. No Bulgarian Jews went 
to the concentration camps during World War II. ``This oratorio could 
not be timelier, when people and nations are burning bridges instead of 
building them. It inspires its performers and audience to stand up for 
justice and acceptance in the face of bigotry and hatred.''
  The oratorio was composed by the award-winning Bulgarian composer 
Georgi Andreev, who combines classical choral-orchestral music with 
traditional rhythms and folk styles rarely encountered today. The motet 
was composed by internationally renowned cantor and composer, Charles 
David Osborne, while a team of writers penned the libretto, including 
lyricist Scott Cairns and contributing author Aryeh Finklestein.
  ``A Melancholy Beauty is a major choral-orchestral oratorio that 
brings 300 superb choristers and instrumentalists to the stage in an 
unparalleled music celebration,'' Sharon Tchonev said. This moving 
oratorio will be conducted by internationally acclaimed choral director 
Maestro Henry H. Leck. The festival includes performances by the 
Indianapolis Children's Choir; the Tel Aviv Chamber Choir, Israel; the 
Philip Kutev National Folklore Ensemble, Bulgaria; the Victor Valley 
College Singers and the Master Arts Chorale, CA. The oratorio will be 
accompanied by the National Philharmonic in the Washington and New York 
performances and by the Boston Modern Orchestra Project in Boston. This 
coming together of musicians from countries impacted by these crucial 
events ``is intended to redefine freedom and harmony through the power 
of music,'' Sharon Tchonev said.
  Songs of Life invites people to pay tribute to victims and survivors 
and to speak out against intolerance today by attending one of the 
following performances of A Melancholy Beauty: The Citi Performing Arts 
Center, Wang Theatre, Thursday, June 23, 2011, 7:30 PM; Boston, The 
Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, Sunday, June 26, 2011, 3 PM; New 
York City.

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