I BELIEVE

A Holocaust Oratorio for Today

Music and Lyrics composed by Zane Zalis

 

RENOWNED CONDUCTOR, ROBERTO PATERNOSTRO, MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE ISRAEL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

LEADS OPERA CANADA SYMPHONY

 

A BREATHTAKING MUSICAL EXPERIENCE WITH A CAST OF OVER 200 MUSICIANS, CHOIRS AND SOLOISTS

 

TORONTO PREMIERE - ROY THOMSON HALL- OCTOBER 25, 2011-8 PM

 

 

The truth must not be erased. Composed of words and music in twelve movements in the musical language of today, I Believe, tells an inspired story of the inextinguishable will to survive. This non-profit production, organized by a dedicated committee, is a 90-minute piece created by award winning Canadian musician/composer Zane Zalis. The Toronto premiere at Roy Thomson Hall on Oct. 25 at 8 pm, for one performance only, features world renowned conductor Roberto Paternostro, Music Director of the highly esteemed Israel Chamber Orchestra. Maestro Paternostro will lead Opera Canada Symphony along with members of the Orpheus Choir (Robert Cooper, Music Director), The University of Toronto MacMillan Singers (Hilary Apfelstadt, Conductor), the Hamilton Children’s Choir (Zimfira Poloz, Artistic Director) and special guest soloists, soprano, Kelsey Cowie and tenors Marc Devigne and Marko Zeiler.

 

Ticket prices: $45, $55, $75, $95, $125, and $135. VIP tickets are available at $300 and will include a meet and greet with creator Zane Zalis who will be in attendance for this landmark concert, Maestro Paternostro and soloists, Kelsey Cowie, Marc Devigne and Marko Zeiler. To purchase tickets: roythomson.com or (416) 872-4255. Concert information:  www.ibelieveproject.org

 

The composing and research for I Believe commenced in 2004. Following a series of excerpted performances in Winnipeg, Murau (Austria) and Jerusalem, I Believe premiered in 2009 in Winnipeg, Canada, featuring the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra conducted by Music Director, Alexander Mickelthwate, 140-voice adult choir, 40 voice children's choir, soloists and a narrator. As part of the research, Holocaust survivors courageously shared their stories with Mr. Zalis. He has transformed these stories and years of study, into a powerful score of 12 musical movements with intensely moving lyrics. The composer, not Jewish himself, is a child of the Ukrainian Catholic traditions and adds:

 

… most oratorios are based on sacred Christian themes, such as Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and Handel’s Messiah. This is a non-religious humanitarian story. The subject of this oration gripped and held me and would not let me go… It’s very personal for me…Peace is not a conclusion but a continuous journey that requires the traveler to be a thoughtful and compassionate navigator.  We must all stand up against intolerance of any kind.  This is universal.

 

Mr. Zalis was honoured with the Canadian Interfaith Leadership Award, the inaugural Manitoba Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for the Advancement of Inter-religious Understanding and the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, for his significant contributions to music, music education and community.