A group of over 30 singers from Malvern St James Girls’ School travelled to London earlier this month to take part in the London premiere of Stari Most.
Written by the composer Dr Richard Chew, Stari Most tells the story of the old bridge of Mostar – built in 1566 at the height of the Ottoman Empire to link the steep gorge carved by the river Neretva, destroyed in 1993 during the Bosnian War and reopened in 2004 after being rebuilt. For over 400 years, Mostar has hosted a diving competition off the bridge which links the Muslim and Croat sectors of the city. The concert tells the story of the relationship between a Croat diver, Dino, and a Muslim woman, Alma.
The premiere of Stari Most took place at St John’s, Waterloo with Dr Richard Chew conducting the school’s singers, The Jenny Lind Singers and the London Graduate Orchestra. The concert was in aid of The Sentry, a human rights charity that was founded by human rights and anti-corruption activist John Prendergast and actor George Clooney.
Headmistress Olivera Raraty said: “It was a wonderful evening and an amazing opportunity for the Malvern St James singers. Thanks to Dr Richard Chew for the extraordinary concert, which was powerful on every level.”
The girls themselves commented on their performance: “We made no mistakes, the soloists told the story well and the orchestra was amazing. It was a massive success and an amazing experience that we will remember for the rest of our lives.”