Songs of Life Festival
song life music festival produced varna international production commemorates music rescue bulgarian jew world war ii bulgaria allied germany regain area dobruja lost several year earlier signing treaty neuillysurseine war early nazi official requested bulgaria deport jewish population workcamps throughout germany poland later year king boris succumbed german demand extradition jew territory reoccupied bulgaria train came take bulgarian jew death camp bulgarian people resisted demand german government refused allow jewish neighbor sent concentration camp single largest nondeportation jew world war ii song life festival debuted november th anniversary rescue bulgarian city sofia plovdiv petah tikva jerusalem israel ernest bloch’s choralorchestral piece sacred service jewish work performed inaugural festival flower distributed people bulgaria auditor musician united state canada bulgaria israel attended participated festival director commissioned librettist scott caims bulgarian composer georgi andreev write oratorio narrate story rescue resulting work melancholy beauty combined classical choralorchestral music traditional rhythm folk style bulgarian instrument gadulka kaval melancholy beauty debuted united state second song life festival performer participated including national philharmonic orchestra indianapolis children’s choir national philharmonic chorale khorikos philip kutev national folklore ensemble bulgaria performance conducted henry leck melancholy beauty performed kennedy center washington dc avery fisher hall lincoln center new york city wang theatre citi performing art center boston song life festival featuring melancholy beauty took place columbia charleston south carolina song life featured washington post new york time boston herald boston globe boston musical intelligencer jewish week holocaust history jew europe