Choral version of Anne Frank's diary gets release date

8 January 2013, 14:07

Composer James Whitbourn's choral setting of The Diary of Anne Frank is to be released on January 22nd.

After a successful first performance of James Whitbourn's Annelies, which takes its inspiration and libretto from The Diary of Anne Frank, a recording of the choral work is due for worldwide release on January 22nd, via Naxos.

Whitbourn's choral work directly uses extracts from the seminal 1947 work, written by the young Anne Frank during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in the Second World War. This chamber version of Annelies (Frank's full name) is scored for solo soprano, chorus and a small ensemble of clarinet, piano, violin and cello.

The 75-minute Naxos recording features Arianna Zukerman (soprano), the Westminster Williamson Voices, the Lincoln Trio and clarinettist Bharat Chandra, under the baton of James Jordan.

Bernd Elias, first cousin of Anne Frank, commented before the work's first performance: "If Anne could be with us tonight, I know she would shed tears of joy and pride, and she would be so happy—happy the way I remember when I saw her last."

Whitbourn's previous compositions include TV soundtracks for Son Of God, as well as music for the funeral of The Queen Mother.