A Remembrance Day concert at MacKay United Church in Ottawa (39 Dufferin street) will pay tribute to Dutch 'half Jewish' and bi-sexual composer Henriëtte Bosmans.
Before the war, Henriette Bosmans already enjoyed a well-established reputation in Dutch musical life, especially as a pianist. During the war she was not allowed to appear in public since she was not registered with 'Kultuurkamer' which gave permission to performers to still work in their field during the war. Instead, Henriëtte Bosmans had to support herself with 'underground, illegal' house concerts. In 1944 her Jewish mother Sara Benedict had been arrested and taken to 'Westerbork'. Through some influential contacts in the music world and the fact that Sara Bosmans had been married to a Roman Catholic husband, Henriëtte Bosmans was able to get her mother out of Westerbork together with 10 other mixed marriage dutch citizens.
Her considerable oeuvre includes orchestral works, chamber music and many songs.
During this concert 10 French songs based on French poetry, by Paul Fort, Fernand Mazade, André Verdet, Raoul Ponchon, Jules Jouy and three pieces for piano and cello will be performed.
Quest performers 'Tone Cluster – quite a queer choir' will be opening the concert with some wonderful songs.
Tone Cluster is a 35-voice auditioned choir for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender people, and their allies in the Ottawa area.
The concert will include a special Liberation Dutch song written by Henriëtte Bosmans, based on a poem by Fedde Schurer, describing the arrival of the Canadian military in 1945 after the very difficult and dramatic times the Dutch citizens had to endure during the Second World War.
The song pays tribute to the Canadian veterans for their Liberation of the Netherlands. This song was composed in June 1945.
Performers are Canada based Dutch mezzo-soprano Pauline van der Roest, Frédéric Lacroix (piano), Joan Harisson (cello) and 'Tone Cluster' – quite a queer choir'.
Tickets @ $20.00 available at Leading Note in Ottawa, (370 Elgin St) or at the door.
Sponsor: Westeinde Family, The Canadian Tulip Festival