I believe that all of us, at some point in our lives, have been asked the question, “What single event has had the most significant impact on your life so far?” Personally, I would be very quick to reply…”It has been Ruth Fazal’s Work of Heart, her Oratorio Terezin.
I look back to a Sunday afternoon in 2003 where I nervously auditioned for a spot in the children’s chorus of the Oratorio. I never dreamed of being accepted ~ the actual composer herself, Ruth Fazal, was conducting the auditions, and I was competing with choristers from all the major choirs from the greater Toronto area. At 12 years of age, I was one of the younger children, and a fairly new member of The Hamilton Children’s Choir. My interest in the Oratorio was keen because of my Jewish heritage ~ my paternal Grandfather Adolph Taub had survived the brutalities of the concentration camps, Auschwitz-Birkenau, Dachau and Sachsenhausen. He was only 16 years old. Because he spoke seven languages, he was used as a translator and was allowed to live, but for control purposes, his eye glasses were taken away. His sight was greatly affected for the rest of his life because of that. This is the reason I felt so compelled to become a small part of this wonderful project; I greatly wanted to honor him. To my absolute delight, I was accepted as a chorister, and so it was, that I embarked on my Spiritual Journey of a Lifetime.
There were endless hours of rehearsal at the choir camp that followed, along with rigorous weekly practices, held at Little Trinity Anglican Church or the Jewish Community Centre, both in Toronto. How excited we were becoming, as we prepared for the Premiere performances, to take place Nov. 1 & 2, 2003, in the George Weston Hall. We were to be joined by a professional orchestra, a full adult choir, and three soloists, and were soon to meet our conductor, the world renowned Kirk Trevor.
During our weeks of preparation, we had many long discussions about Terezin, the children, the story, and the immense sadness. We learned about the realities of war and hatred and prejudice. Each phrase of music we sang began to have more and more significance to us. We started to realize that we were to be the voices of those thousands of children from Terezin who could no longer speak; whose short lives had ended so quickly and so tragically. Their poetry spoke out to us and we were to be changed forever. The words quoted from Hebrew Scripture and put to Ruth’s music, grew more meaningful, as her vision became clearer to us, and we started to understand the message she was sending.
I will never forget the first time we rehearsed with the full ensemble. Up to this point, we had only practiced our music with piano accompaniment. These pages of music that had worked their way into our young hearts would now be a full musical production. And what a beautiful production it was, from the first tap of the baton to the last note of the finale. Little did we know, as we bowed for our first standing ovation, what lay ahead for us?
And so in March 2004, the Oratorio Terezin journey continued on to the Bratislava Reduta Hall, the Vienna Weiner Konzerthaus, (ironically one of Hitler’s favourite concert houses), The Cathedral of St. Peter & St. Paul in Brno, and the Prague Smetana Hall This leg of our journey would see 20 of the original 53 choristers join with the Slovak Philharmonic Chamber Choir, the Slovac Radio Orchestra, and the Bratislava Boys Choir, along with our three soloists who represented The Voice of God, The Voice of The Prophet & The Voice of Suffering.
So many life changing experiences…Being billeted with families in Bratislava, who had few worldly possessions, but so willingly shared all they had to make us feel welcome and comfortable. Guided tours of the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Prague. Meeting George Brady, a Terezin survivor – (Have you read “Hannah’s Suitcase”?) Singing in one of Austria’s oldest and most beautiful concert halls. And then, there was our visit to Terezin ~ a memory tattooed on my heart forever. Seeing the children’s artwork that had somehow been saved, viewing the photographs of those that had been taken from their warm homes and subjected to a life without ~ without siblings, without the loving care of parents, without the hope of a happy future, where families are together again.
May 2005 found us touring Israel – another inspiring and life-changing journey.
The Bat Kol Girls Choir of Israel joined only five of the original Canadian choristers, a few members of the Bratislava Boys Choir, The Israel Chamber Orchestra, and the Ma’ayan Choir of Israel.
Our temporary home was with the Sisters of St. Joseph in their convent in Abu Gosh, a city where Christians, Jews and Muslim Arabs live peacefully together. Adjoining the convent is The Church of Notre Dame de Arche d’Alliance (Our Lady of the Ark of the Covenant). It is located at the highest point in the village. We were told that the Ark of the Covenant actually was kept there for a period of time. Each night, as the big iron gates enveloped the convent’s grounds, we felt tranquility and peace. One of my most significant memories was of Holocaust Memorial Day. Our group decided to spend a few quiet moments of reflection in the beautiful convent garden overlooking the hills of Jerusalem. We spoke quietly together, some of us prayed, and Ruth played her violin – a kind of improvisation, the notes capturing our every emotion. The very second she stopped playing, the sirens sounded to mark the eleventh hour. Not a sound could be heard anywhere – total silence – complete respect.
2006 found us preparing for a concert in Toronto once again. Auditions were held, and some of our original choristers from the Europe tour, returned to join our new recruits. We were also joined by some members of the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, and were to meet them again when we traveled to the United States for the U.S. Premiere.
The U.S. Premiere of Oratorio Terezin took place Wednesday February 7, 2007 at the Tilles Centre for the Performing Arts, Long Island, and Thursday February 8 at Carnegie Hall. Our Toronto choristers were joined by The Young People’s Chorus of New York City, some members of the Bratislava Boy’s Choir, Toronto Mendelssohn Singers and full orchestra.
I think the most significant event for me was visiting Ground Zero, and coming to the realization of the similar tragedy of the loss of human lives. Just as I had felt in Terezin, when walking on the same grounds where the children had walked, here at the 911 memorial site, I experienced a similar lingering pain in my heart.
And now it is February 2009, and I feel so honored to again be a part of the Oratorio Terezin production; this time, with the love of my life ~ The Hamilton Children’s Choir, the magnificent Bach Elgar Choir, The Talisker Players Orchestra and talented soloists.
In memory & with hope ~
“I never saw another butterfly
..that butterfly was the last one.
Butterflies don't live here in the ghetto" ~ Paval Friedmann
...that butterfly was the last one. "I never saw another butterfly
*Emily is a first year honours Music major at McMaster University.
She plans to pursue her Masters degree in vocal performance.
Butterflies don't live here in the ghetto" s