POW Requiem

This epic concert will create a deeper understanding of the stories of Prisoners of War from WWII, particularly those held captive in Asia. It will show all perspectives through the power of music and imagery, some 80 years after the beginning of the Thai Burma Railway.

Created by some of Australia’s leading composers and performed by Susasnnah Lawergren, Andrew Goodwin, Riley Lee, the Canberra Symphony Orchestra and choirs, these stories from captivity will include those from the Fall of Singapore, the use of POW and Asian forced labourers, construction of the Thai Burma Railroad, local stories around the internship of German, Italian and Japanese civilians in Australia. Some of the songs from the ‘Changi Songbook’ will demonstrate how entertainers kept up morale, and the astounding Women’s Vocal Orchestra of Sumatra will be sublime, ending with a history of Japanese Australian reconciliation in the penultimate movement, the Tears of Forgiveness.

If you saw or heard about the ‘Vietnam Requiem’, this concert will be equally emotional, heartfelt and memorable. It will be a once in a lifetime experience.