Israel Tour May 2005

May 6th
Jerusalem, Jerusalem Theatre

Photos: Israel Tour 2005

SOLOISTS | CONDUCTOR

Orchestra and Choirs: Israel Chamber Orchestra, Bat Kol Girls Choir with members from New Streams Children's Choir of Canada, Bratislava Boys Choir, Ma'ayan Choir with members of Slovak Philharmonic Chamber Choir.

From Prague to Jerusalem

In March 2004, two days after the last performance of the European Tour of Oratorio Terezin, in Prague, Ruth Fazal went to Israel. Feeling very strongly that this was to be the next place for the Oratorio to be performed, it was amazing to see the details come together so quickly, and within hours Ruth was connected to the Israel Chamber orchestra who, on hearing the work, agreed to perform it. The dates were tentatively set for May 2005. The only dates that they could manage were May 5, 6, and 7th. It was only when these were arranged that Ruth found out that May 5th was Holocaust memorial day in Israel and that being the 60th year of the liberation of the camps, Yad Vashem, the holocaust museum in Jerusalem is to host an international gathering of survivors from May 4th to May 9th. The timing is so perfect!  It is anticipated that thousands of survivors, and their families, of concentration and death camps will be in Israel during the time that Oratorio Terezin will be performed.

To recap - How did Oratorio Terezin evolve?

In the summer of 1999, violinist and composer, Ruth Fazal was given a book entitled "I never saw another Butterfly" - poetry and art of children from the ghetto of Terezin during the years 1941-44. Terezin is a small town on the northwest outskirts of Prague, in what was then Czechoslovakia. Created to look like a model town given by the Nazis to the Jews, it was in actual fact a total deception. Terezin was merely a way-station to the death camps. Of the many thousands of Jews held in Terezin, there were at least 15,000 children. Only about one hundred of them survived.

As Ruth read the poetry, she felt inspired to create a musical work that would weave some of the children's poetry together with the Hebrew Scriptures, addressing the much asked question "Where was God in this time of great darkness?"

The result is a major choral composition for two choirs, (children and adult) symphony orchestra, and three vocal soloists. The style is lyrical and dramatic, and the piece promises to provide a moving and thought provoking experience for all who will come to hear it. 

The Butterfly Sculpture

"I never saw another butterfly
...that butterfly was the last one.
Butterflies don't live here in the ghetto" Paval Haas

In response to Oratorio Terezin, a unique and powerful sculpture has been created by Rick Wienecke, a native of Canada, who has lived in Israel for the past 28 years, and is an Israeli citizen. Through his sculptures, Rick addresses many themes, concerning the history of the Jewish people. This sculpture depicts a young child, abandoned on the inside of an oven door. The child's hand reaches through the door, and grasps a plot of land on the other side of the door, representing Israel. It speaks of the birth of a nation, (Israel) that came from the ashes of the Holocaust. Just out of reach of the child's hand, a butterfly has settled on the ground.

At each concert hall, a life size sculpture was on show. For enquiries about purchasing a model of this sculpture, please contact us

Oratorio Terezin Website © 2006 Ruth Fazal/Tributary Music, 296 Glebemount Ave, Toronto, Ontario M4C 3V3 Canada