ANNE FRANK
The Diary of Anne Frank, the memoir that has touched the heart of millions, was given an extra dimension by the 20th-century Jewish composer, Grigori Frid. The libretto of the opera is composed of the writings of a 13-years-old Jewish girl, who was hiding with her family in a house in Amsterdam from 1942 until their arrest by the Nazi police in August 1944. Feelings mixed with grief, protest and admiration for Anne’s spiritual strength fill the entire score by Grigori Frid.
Anne Frank did not survive the war, but her diary did and it became a global bestseller, reminding millions of the horrors of war. Grigori Frid’s opera is the only music version of the world- famous Dutch book created shortly after the publication of its literary source. Vivid and memorable, this dramatic opera recreates the world of Anne Frank, who lived in hope for freedom and peace. In the 60-minute mono opera, Anne reveals her emotional pressure, profound thoughts and moral power, her reflections on the first romantic feelings and her unbending will to live. Anne’s different moods and emotions, her pleasures and fears , all find moving and expression in the Frid’s score for soprano and chamber orchestra (or piano). The opera was first performed with piano accompaniment in Moscow in 1972. The opera received worldwide recognition after the European and American productions in orchestral version. At the turn of the century, the Operabase listed The Diary of Anne Frank by Grigori Frid as the world's most performed opera by a contemporary composer.
Today, The Diary of Anne Frank holds a special significance and goes far beyond a common opera production. The Diary of Anne Frank has gained worldwide fame and has become a symbol of global resistance to genocide, authoritarian regimes and crimes against humanity. The countless productions of The Diary of Anne Frank in German, English, Russian, Spanish, Italian, Czech, Croatian and Slovenian highlight its exceptional place in the musical repertoire, serving as an appeal for solidarity and resistance against tyranny. The project’s purpose is to produce The Diary of Anne Frank in Norwegian to honor the memory of the victims of authoritarian regimes in Norway and throughout the world.
