The Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus under direction of Music Director Adam Luebke is presenting the stirring choral work Annelies: The Diary of Anne Frank. Performed in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the diary’s publishing. James Whitbourn’s composition is the only choral setting of Anne’s story and features music that remembers, touches, and frees the soul.

Since it was published in 1947, Anne Frank’s diary has captivated readers around the world. Her diary details the Frank family’s experience during the World War II Nazi occupation of the Netherlands and was written during the two years the family spent in hiding. It has been said that Anne’s story is “an important human document” and has been translated into over 70 languages.

“Annelies takes Anne’s remarkable and penetrating observations, written whilst hiding in an Amsterdam attic, as the basis of its extraordinary and moving libretto. Whitbourn’s music for this work has been described as “woundingly beautiful” (The Daily Telegraph). He reflects sounds of the Westerkerk bells and tunes heard on the radio in the Annexe, along with representations of Anne Frank’s Jewish and German heritage, details that add to a score “whose respectful understatement is its greatest strength (The Times).” – Naxos Music

The Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus (BPC) is a non-profit arts organization dedicated to enriching the Western New York region through the performance of high-quality, diverse musical programs and developing singers in the choral arts. Under the director of Music Director, Dr. Adam Luebke, the chorus seeks to embodies the pillars of Commitment, Professionalism, Camaraderie, Artistry, and Joy. The BPC is the winner of the 2020 GRAMMY® award for Best Choral Performance for their recording of Richard Danielpour’s The Passion of Yeshua with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor JoAnn Falletta. With a roster of over 120 singers, the BPC is frequently heard as the principal choral partner of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

This program is cosponsored by the Holocaust Resource Center, Buffalo Jewish Federation, Jewish Community Center, and The Anne Frank Project.

Tickets are available at bpchorus.org