Liberation

1995 marked 50 years since the end of the Holocaust - 50 years since Allied Troops entered and liberated the concentration camps.

 

To commemorate this anniversary, Meir Finkelstein was inspired to write a large-scale work for orchestra, soloists and chorus and used diverse musical styles ranging from classical to gospel.

 

His goal was quote ”to express the exhilaration of being liberated and to demonstrate the agony inherent in the struggle for freedom - to offer inspiration and hope for a better world.”

  

November 13th, 1995.

 

Dorothea Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles: the world premiere of Liberation.

 

The Los Angeles Philharmonic and The Los Angeles Master Chorale, conducted by Keith Lockhart. Billy Crystal hosted and there were guest appearances by Melissa Manchester and the late Bob Saget. President Bill Clinton was Honorary Chair and sent a personal message. 

 

Cantor Finkelstein went on to record the oratorio with members of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.

 

Coincidentally, in 1995,  Cantor Finkelstein also wrote the music for Steven Spielberg’s documentary Survivors of the Holocaust.

 

Liberation was subsequently revised for a 2008 performance by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

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