Profound Tale of Tragedy & Survival, Hope & Remembrance

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.
 
The second part of the composition, ‘Survival’, opens with a benediction for Perel’s late husband Morris (an important community figure who was instrumental in the formation of the Vancouver Holocaust Memorial). Songs in this section offer gratitude to Japanese Consul Chiune Shuguhara, who rescued thousands of Jews during WWII, and to the King and people of Bulgaria, who protected Jews from death during the Holocaust. The work concludes with “Jerusalem,” in which Perel shares her personal hope that the world will one day know true peace.
 
The chamber work is composed for two vocalists and an accompanying ensemble. The January performance will feature distinguished VAM faculty members Joseph Elworthy (cello), Robyn Driedger-Klassen (soprano), and Mark Ferris (violin), joined by leading Vancouver musicians Mark Fenster (baritone), Francois Houle (clarinet), Lani Krantz (harp), and Kozue Matsumoto (koto).

Born in 1929, Renia Perel and her older sister Henia were the only members of their family to escape the Holocaust. Their flight began on Dec. 4, 1941 in Southeast Poland and would eventually lead them to Canada in October of 1948. Renia grew up to become a mother, community leader, and teacher in the Lower Mainland. She composed the entirety of Songs of the Wasteland during a period of enormous creative output in May of 2005.