STRATHMORE
On April 20, 2022, The Defiant Requiem Foundation celebrated the 20th anniversary of the world premiere of Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezín by presenting the moving and acclaimed multi-media concert-drama at The Music Center at Strathmore. In a nod to the performance’s history – which includes two decades of uniformly high praise from music critics and consistent feedback from audience members about its life-changing and life-affirming story – the performance was held on the exact anniversary, to the day, of the Portland, Oregon, premiere. In a nod to the future, the performance featured a chorus of over 180 students drawn from 6 universities, nearly all of whom were performing Verdi’s Requiem and experiencing the Defiant Requiem story for the first time. This milestone performance also served as a benefit to support The Defiant Requiem Foundation’s ongoing and important work; raising funds to expand its creative educational programming and curriculum materials, providing increased outreach and support to teachers and students, and enabling it to have the funding to develop new creative and artistic performances. We are grateful to Jeffrey Schoenfeld, the evening’s Presenting Sponsor, for his belief in the Foundation’s educational mission and his commitment to this special performance. The concert was also supported by a number of prominent officials including the late Secretary Madeleine K. Albright, who agreed to serve as honorary Concert Chair before her unfortunate passing, along with Representative Jamie Raskin; Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen; and Ambassadors Emily Haber (Germany), Michael Herzog (Israel), Hynek Kmoníček (Czech Republic), Stavros Lamrinidis (European Union), and Martin Weiss (Austria). The 20th Anniversary concert was the 51st worldwide performance of Defiant Requiem and, in addition to being a historical milestone, it was also a wonderful artist success. Joining the Orchestra of Terezín Remembrance was the Foundation’s
regular concertmaster, Herbert Greenberg, along with frequent soloists Jennifer Check (soprano), Ann McMahon Quintero (mezzo-soprano), and Nathan Stark (bass-baritone). Rounding out the quartet was newcomer to Defiant Requiem , tenor Cooper Nolan. The combined collegiate chorus was conceived and prepared by Erin Freeman,
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