Power to the children! The story of 55 children orphaned at the outbreak of war in Poland in 1939, traversing the snow together, battling hunger and scenes of clamour and conflict as they search for a land where peace reigns. Triggered by one of Berthold Brecht’s most poignant poems, Britten’s pacifist manifesto is a stark reminder of the impact of war on our children. Its message is sung by children: Canberra’s own Luminescence Children’s Choir.

The stories and legends of children joining the theatre of war go back to the times of the Crusades. Most folktales and fairy tales go back just as many centuries and were enriched by the imagination of generations. Charles Perrault’s collection of 1697 contains many of most popular fairy tales, from Sleeping Beauty to Red Riding Hood. They inspired Ravel to write one of his most magical scores.

The concert finishes with a recent rendition of a touching letter written by Sam Weiss’ great-grandmother to her little girl Nelly, as they were leaving Berlin in 1936.

PROGRAMME

Maurice Ravel, Ma mère l’Oye (Mother Goose Suite) (1910)

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Berthold Brecht, The Children’s Crusade (1939)

Benjamin Britten, The Children’s Crusade, based on B. Brecht (1969)

Sam Weiss, Deine Mami (2021)

ARTISTS

Luminescence Children’s Choir, directed by AJ America

Stephanie and Edward Neeman, piano

Veronica Milroy, organ

Veronica Bailey, percussion