“Quietly and peacefully music opens the doors of the soul.” So wrote Sophie Scholl, one of the members of the White Rose resistance – a group of five students and a professor who took a stand against Nazism in 1942, and who paid with their lives.

Sophie’s words perfectly capture this powerful sequence of choral singing interwoven with readings from the letters and pamphlets left by the group.

The vibrant and thoughtful SANSARA choir tells the moving story of the White Rose, reflecting on their incredible courage, their love for their families and friends, and, above all, their belief in standing up for humanity. Choral works by composers from J.S. Bach to Cecilia McDowall, and settings of words by Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Edith Cavell, show music’s extraordinary ability to bring people together, to inspire courage, and to provide consolation in the face of terrible grief and fear.

Traces of the White Rose is introduced by Dr Alexandra Lloyd, and features readings presented in vivid new translations by students from the University of Oxford’s White Rose Project. A related podcast series gives more detailed explanation of what happened, and what lessons can be learnt from this remarkable sacrifice. 

Download programme notes.

SANSARA
Tom Herring conductor
Dr Alexandra Lloyd speaker
James Mack reader
Tesni Kujore reader

We’re delighted to welcome SANSARA back for our Britten Weekend, following their extraordinary Residency development within our Compassionate Communities programme.

This performance will be surtitled.