Lacrimosa Dies Illa: a movie about Babi Yar
The Holocaust Centre of New Zealand is to present a film on the Babi Yar massacre.
‘Lacrimosa Dies Illa’ (That Day of Tears) is a documentary featuring Ukrainian/Israeli composer Boris Pigovat, and his monumental work “Requiem – the Holocaust”.
The 65-minute film tells the story of the Babi Yar massacre in 1941, at which the composer’s grandparents and aunt were murdered, along with over 33,000 other Jews.
2021 marks the 80th anniversary year of the Babi Yar massacre.
Boris Pigovat’s “Requiem – the Holocaust” was first performed in Kiev in 2001 and had its New Zealand premiere in 2008. It only entered into the mainstream of the international musical community after its release on the Atoll Record label in 2011, the same year it had its German premiere at the International Viola Congress in Wuerzberg. Donald Maurice was the solo violist for the CD, Wellington, and German performances.
Narrated by Ukrainian violist Valentyna Bugrak, on location at Babi Yar, the story is interspersed with excerpts from the Requiem, played by the New Zealand School of Music Orchestra, with viola soloist Xi (Lucy) Liu, conducted by Martin Riseley. Boris Pigovat also speaks about each of the four movements, giving insight into the structure and inspiration behind the music.
Both the speakers and the musical excerpts convey the horror of the events at Babi Yar and in the Holocaust in general, harrowing at times but honest and direct, and in the final minutes focus on hope and reconciliation.
Join HCNZ for the New Zealand premiere screening of ‘Lacrimosa Dies Illa’ at the Penthouse Cinema in Wellington, Thursday 6th May, 6 pm. Tickets are free. Donations would be greatly appreciated. Licensed cafe on site.
