Moving and dramatic, this Irish premiere of Grigory Frid’s opera The Diary of Anne Frank features talented Armenian-American Soprano Ani Maldjian in the title role, making her Irish debut.
The young teenager’s writings provide a poignant and personal insight into a world event, chronicling an important era in European history from the viewpoint of someone living through its reality. Anne Frank’s diary has long held a fascination for OTC’s Artistic Director, Annilese Miskimmon. It seemed apt to celebrate the life of the young idealist and stage this production this year, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam.
The Diary of Anne Frank, opens at The Abbey Theatre on the Peacock stage on Friday 10 September with a second performance on Saturday 11 September, before touring to twelve venues around the country.
Perhaps Anne Frank’s most memorable trait was her capacity to remain an optimist in spite of the oppression surrounding her: I don't think of all the misery but of the beauty that still remains.
This rare spirit in the face of adversity is humbling but, above all, inspiring. When Russian composer Grigory Frid read the diary in 1960, he was overwhelmed. Frid felt personally drawn to Anne Frank’s diary. Celebrating his 95th birthday this September, having survived Stalinism and lived through the rise and fall of Communism, Frid found the diary to be a deeply philosophical and ethical work, raising issues that still resonate today. Sung in English, the opera uses Anne’s own words to illustrate different episodes from life in hiding, finding eloquent expression in the compelling score.
Now in its twenty-fourth year of touring opera throughout Ireland, Opera Theatre Company offers original artistic experiences of the highest quality to a wide cross-section of the population. Miskimmon believes that the company has “a simple remit - to bring opera to the whole island of Ireland, no matter what age or social group. Unfortunately, opera has been kidnapped by elitism over time, but we are evangelical about our mission because for us, opera is not exclusive: it is enjoyable, exciting, emotional.”
With Andrew Synnott conducting, co-direction by Ingrid Craigie and Annilese Miskimmon, and design by Nicky Shaw, this compelling production should not be missed.
The young teenager’s writings provide a poignant and personal insight into a world event, chronicling an important era in European history from the viewpoint of someone living through its reality. Anne Frank’s diary has long held a fascination for OTC’s Artistic Director, Annilese Miskimmon. It seemed apt to celebrate the life of the young idealist and stage this production this year, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam.
The Diary of Anne Frank, opens at The Abbey Theatre on the Peacock stage on Friday 10 September with a second performance on Saturday 11 September, before touring to twelve venues around the country.
Perhaps Anne Frank’s most memorable trait was her capacity to remain an optimist in spite of the oppression surrounding her: I don't think of all the misery but of the beauty that still remains.
This rare spirit in the face of adversity is humbling but, above all, inspiring. When Russian composer Grigory Frid read the diary in 1960, he was overwhelmed. Frid felt personally drawn to Anne Frank’s diary. Celebrating his 95th birthday this September, having survived Stalinism and lived through the rise and fall of Communism, Frid found the diary to be a deeply philosophical and ethical work, raising issues that still resonate today. Sung in English, the opera uses Anne’s own words to illustrate different episodes from life in hiding, finding eloquent expression in the compelling score.
Now in its twenty-fourth year of touring opera throughout Ireland, Opera Theatre Company offers original artistic experiences of the highest quality to a wide cross-section of the population. Miskimmon believes that the company has “a simple remit - to bring opera to the whole island of Ireland, no matter what age or social group. Unfortunately, opera has been kidnapped by elitism over time, but we are evangelical about our mission because for us, opera is not exclusive: it is enjoyable, exciting, emotional.”
With Andrew Synnott conducting, co-direction by Ingrid Craigie and Annilese Miskimmon, and design by Nicky Shaw, this compelling production should not be missed.
Comments
Post has no comments.