The Celebration Singers of Asheville will present selections from I Never Saw Another Butterfly by Charles Davidson on Sunday, May 17, 2015.
Founded by longtime area musician and teacher Ginger Haselden, the group will also perform the children’s opera Bundibár by Hans Krása. The performance showcases the talent, dedication, and hard work of kids ages 8-14. Comprised of young musicians from area public, private, and home schools, this community youth chorus is a true labor of love for Haselden, whose passion for sharing great works of opera with children knows no limit.
Now completing its 8th year as a not-for-profit 501 (c) 3 educational charity, Celebration Singers has grown steadily, attracting youth from a wide circle of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
“We are proud to present a poignant and historically important concert in this the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II,” adds Haselden. “The lyrics for Butterfly, from the poetry of the children of Terezín, are full of hope and are set to the beautiful score. The singers will perform selections from this major work written as a musical memorial to the 15,000 children who passed through Theresienstadt on their journey to Auschwitz. The delightful opera Bundibár (sung in English) was performed for and by the children to lighten their anxiety and for the entertainment of the officials. It’s the story of a town bully who learned his lesson when the children were victorious, and is appropriate for all ages.”
The performance will be dedicated to Alice Herz-Sommer, the last known survivor of Terezín and a virtuoso pianist who died last year at age 110, and her son Raphael who performed in Bundibár.
If You Go: The Celebration Singers of Asheville present selections from I Never Saw Another Butterfly, and Bundibár.
- Friday, May 15, 2015 at 7 p.m. at Unity of the Blue Ridge Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd, Mills River.
- Saturday, May 16 at 3:30 p.m. Brooks-Howell Home, 266 Merrimon Ave., Asheville.
- Sunday, May 17, at 4 p.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 20 Oak St., downtown Asheville.
Admission is free; donations requested at the door. For more information call (828) 230-5778 or visit www.singasheville.org