Liberation Day Concert

Music in Action has announced that following talks with the Jersey Opera House and the States of Jersey, the seventeenth Liberation International Music Festival taking place from 9 th to 18th May will open on Liberation Day with two Liberation Day Concerts at the Jersey Opera House.

The venue, closed for 5 years since March 2020, will re-open its doors on 9th May. The unique celebratory programme includes one of the world’s finest  orchestras – the Philharmonia, with Jersey singer Georgia Mae-Bishop and international violin soloist Harriet Mackenzie.

The Festival commemorating the 80th anniversary of Jersey’s liberation, blends world-class performances with historic reflections on escape and freedom. Venues across the island of Jersey include the iconic locations of Hamptonne, Gorey Harbour, Rozel Fort and now Jersey Opera House.

The Liberation Day Concert, directed by Harriet Mackenzie, will perform a program featuring Mozart’s Divertimento in F, the world premiere of Ariel Pirotti’s Tango Concerto, and Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires. The evening will conclude with a medley of wartime songs performed by Georgie Mae-Bishop.
Overall the Festival focuses on the liberation of Jersey while also reflecting on life in nearby France – where the liberating forces freed the population to much rejoicing – as well as life at home in the final year of the war, when the cutting of food supplies led to terrible hardship. Don’t miss this celebration of freedom, history and music.

Members of the public lucky enough to purchase tickets to our beautifully restored Opera House will get to see the new pale wood seating with blue cushions,  the glittering ceiling and the blue colours of the auditorium with hand applied gold leaf and marbled accents.

Chairman of Music in Action, James Mews stated: “The opening of the Jersey Opera House for Music in Action’s Liberation International Music Festival is a momentous occasion for our island. After five years of closure, this iconic venue will once again resonate with the power of live performance, bringing world-class music to the heart of our community. Our Festival offers real Jersey stories such as the work of activist Claude Cahun in the show ‘The Soldier with no Name’, uplifting Jazz at Hamptonne, an exciting return to our wonderful Opera House, and many other events to enjoy togteerh for our 80th Liberation anniversary. We will celebrates freedom, resilience, love and the unifying power of music.”

Dave Chalk, Chairman of the Jersey Opera House stated: “It’s fabulous that after 5 long years, one of our longest term supporters Music in Action will be the first local group to put on a show at the Jersey Opera House and its very fitting that this should be on Liberation Day.”