OperaVision

Today , 7 August 2020, the Brussels’ PUSH opera recorded March 13, 2019 at La Monnaie Opera House has been made available online for the next 6 months (until 5 Feb. 2021) with subtitles in English, French and Dutch and with the option of auto-translation into over 100 other languages via the OperaVision platform – portal of the Opera Europa, European association of opera companies and festivals. http://operavision.eu/en

PUSH made its world première on Saturday 1 October 2016 at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill on Sea (UK). This powerfull inspirational community opera was specially commisioned from Howard Moody (composer , conductor, musical director) by Battle Festival (Sally Lampitt, festival director and producer, and Dave Furness, chairman) for Battle Festival 2016 and the ROOT 1066 International Festival in partnership with Glyndebourne and the De La Warr Pavilion. Simon Gronowski attended the premiere.

The opera is inspired by the true story of Simon Gronowski, whose mother pushed him off a train heading to Auschwitz in 1943 – an action that saved his life and gave the opera its name.

Howard Moody first met Simon Gronowski at a performance of his opera Sindbad in 2014 at La Monnaie Opera House in Brussels. Simon told the Howard the story of his escape and life and ended with the phrase “Ma Vie N’est Que Miracles !”. Moody was so moved he promised that night to write his next opera about Simon.

Howard’s opera PUSH tells the story of Simon’s escape from the 20th Convoy Train on April 19, 1943 – how his mother pushed Simon off the train – and the recent story of Simon meeting and forgiving his former camp guard of deportation camp Mechelen , some years ago.

PUSH was directed by Simon Iorio in Bexhill and later that month at the nearby St Mary’s Church in Battle , and performed by the PUSH orchestra , the Battle Festival Community Choir and PUSH singers — a cast made up of singers of all abilities from Battle and the surrounding area — children, teenagers and adults were resistance fighters, collaborators and prisoners — while three professional soloists played the roles of Simon (James Newby), Simon’s Sister (Tereza Gevorgyan) and the Guard (Matthew Stiff).

PUSH tells Simon’s story but also deals with much broader themes of persecution — a story of our times, full of themes of hope and togetherness, separation, and fear.

‘The moment that got me every time was when Simon’s sister makes her final appearance, soaring over a heart-wrenching klezmer-y tune.’ — ‘tomatopips’ ( https://tomatopips.wordpress.com/2017/02/04/ma-vie-nest-que-miracles/ )

The PUSH community opera was next performed in the UK in Salisbury and Chichester (2018), and with a special performance to mark International Holocaust Memorial Day in January 2019 at the Speaker’s House in Westminster, London (hosted by The House of Commons, Chichester MP Gillian Keegan) that was attended by leaders in the Jewish community along with members from both houses of Parliament.

March 2019 PUSH premiered in Simon Gronowski’s hometown , in Brussels at La Monnaie Opera House and was performed in the presence of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium and Simon Gronowski and family. Director of the Brussels’ performance was Benoît De Leersnyder and Howard was conductor of La Monnaie’s Chamber Music Ensemble with a mixed youth and adult Chorus / La Monnaie’s Children’s and Youth Chorus. Soloists were James Newby (Simon), Sheva Tehoval (Simon’s sister) , Ivan Ludlow (Guard) and Felix Cooper / Thylan Aerts / Milo Avalosse / Djurre Diels (Young Simon). Lighting designer was Ace McCarron. Sets & Costumes by Emilie Lauwers and both Emilie Lauwers & Simon Van Rompay did the Video work.

PUSH Opera – Finale with giant choir – Lockdown 2020 🇧🇪 🇬🇧

Finally, during the lockdown 2020, singers from all four casts of the previous productions in Belgium and UK – Bexhill, Battle, Salisbury, Chichester, London and Brussels – recorded their parts to create a virtual giant choir of over 150 opera singers.
The film ‘My life is only miracles’ – the finale of Howard Moody‘s opera PUSH – was edited by Shogo Hino – with additional work by Michel van der Burg , Miracles.Media – and released online the night of April 19th 2020 to mark the 77th anniversary of protagonist Simon Gronowski’s escape from the death train Transport XX to Auschwitz. That night more than 200 prisoners escaped from the train before the German border after three Brussels resistance heroes stopped that Nazi train Transport XX, transporting 1600 Jewish deportees to Auschwitz.

Link : https://youtu.be/-sm1rI-j5iE

Following the online premiere of this virtual performance of Howard Moody’s PUSH finale that was created during lockdown , the La Monnaie Opera House too made available temporarily last April for screening online the entire opera of PUSH, performed in March 2019 in Brussels.

OperaVision featuring PUSH online

Today , 7 August 2020, the Brussels’ PUSH opera recorded March 13, 2019 has been made available online for the next 6 months (until 5 Feb. 2021) with subtitles in English, French and Dutch and with the option of auto-translation into over 100 other languages via the OperaVision platform – portal of the Opera Europa, European association of opera companies and festivals. http://operavision.eu/en

OperaVision is showing both :
– Push — Finale with virtual chorus , screening a copy from the operavision youtube channel. link http://operavision.eu/en/library/ausschnitte/push-finale

– Push: Jumping into life . The story behind the opera. link http://operavision.eu/en/library/feuilleton/push-jumping-life

– Push. The opera as recorded March 13, 2019. link http://operavision.eu/en/library/performances/operas/push-la-monnaie

Documentary film “Transport XX to Auschwitz”

Online free full documentary with Simon Gronowski , link https://michelvanderburg.com/2013/04/19/transport-xx-to-auschwitz/

Interview with with Sue Kent and Howard Moody

Interview with with Sue Kent and Howard Moody. By Wiltshire Creative , April 2020
This Big Interview is with composer Howard Moody and Sue Kent, founder member of Salisbury Arts Centre and general manager of La Folia. They are in conversation with Wiltshire Creative’s Take Part Director, Louise Dancy.
link https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=565415244109794

NEWS

Opera PUSH – online via OperaVision 2020-2021

Push. The opera as recorded March 13, 2019 , La Monnai, Brussels. link http://operavision.eu/en/library/performances/operas/push-la-monnaie

Las micro-óperas digitales creadas durante el confinamiento llegan a OperaVision – Ópera Actual , Aug 2, 2020 by Lourdes Morgades
link https://www.operaactual.com/noticia/las-micro-operas-digitales-creadas-durante-el-confinamiento-llegan-a-operavision/

Virtual Opera PUSH Finale – Lockdown April 2020

Virtual Opera PUSH Epilogue ~ Ma Vie N’est Que Miracles by Michel van der Burg
link https://michelvanderburg.com/2020/04/19/virtual-opera-push-epilogue-ma-vie-nest-que-miracles/

Cross-border chorus recalls incredible bravery of 20th Convoy escape – The Bulletin 19/04/2020 -Written by Sally Tipper (Flanders Today)
https://www.thebulletin.be/cross-border-chorus-recalls-incredible-bravery-20th-convoy-escape

Opera Stars Will Join Forces to Perform the Finale of PUSH; Video to Debut April 18
by BWW News Desk Apr. 16, 2020
link https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwopera/article/Opera-Stars-Will-Join-Forces-to-Perform-the-Finale-of-PUSH-Video-to-Debut-April-18-20200416

Chichester and Bexhill singers join online commemoration of Belgian Resistance heroism – Mid Sussex Times by Phil Hewitt
Wednesday, 22nd April 2020
link https://www.midsussextimes.co.uk/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/chichester-and-bexhill-singers-join-online-commemoration-belgian-resistance-heroism-2543751

PUSH in Brussels 2019

Push. The opera as recorded March 13, 2019 , La Monnai, Brussels. link http://operavision.eu/en/library/performances/operas/push-la-monnaie

Ateliers Monnaie PUSH
https://michelvanderburg.com/2020/04/18/ateliers-monnaie-push/

PUSH by Emilie Lauwers
link https://www.emilielauwers.be/PUSH

PUSH | Wat een push met je leven kan doen
link https://www.cultuurkuur.be/project/push-wat-een-push-met-je-leven-kan-doen-0

Battle Festival – World premiere 2016 

PUSH Opera – Bexhill | Battle Festival 2016
PUSH Opera – Live recording of the world premiere on 1 October 2016 at the De La Warr Pavilion – Music and libretto by Howard Moody – Commissioned by Battle Festival
online link https://vimeo.com/199353255

PUSH for tolerance and togetherness in landmark opera – Hastings & St Leonards Observer By The Newsroom, Friday, 1st July 2016
https://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/push-tolerance-and-togetherness-landmark-opera-1224957

BBC News – Opera PUSH tells how a young boy escaped Auschwitz horror
link https://michelvanderburg.com/2016/10/07/bbc-news-opera-push-tells-how-a-young-boy-escaped-auschwitz-horror/

Last Performance Of PUSH Opera – by Heidi Foster – October 13, 2016 RYE | NEWS
link https://www.ryenews.org.uk/culture/last-performance-push-opera

Ma Vie N’est Que Miracles – by tomatopips.wordpress , February 4, 2017
link https://tomatopips.wordpress.com/2017/02/04/ma-vie-nest-que-miracles/