COVENTRY.- Singers of all ages will be performing a new piece to mark Holocaust Memorial Day at The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum on Saturday, January 24.

Coventry-based Talking Birds have created One Voice which will be sung in the covered courtyard at the venue in Jordan Well in the city centre.

Three choirs – one male, one female and one children’s – along with narrator John Flitcroft will tell the story of one man who attempts to pack his life into one small suitcase as he hears the ominous smashing of glass around him.

The 20-minute performance has been composed by Derek Nisbet, written by Nick Walker, designed by Janet Vaughan and the choirs have been coached by Ilona Sekacz.

Derek said: “A visit to Auschwitz helped us conceive the piece we’ve made to mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2009. We were struck by the lives of families that were being lived up to the moment when they were split up and taken away.

“We wanted to focus on that moment to help express both a life lives, and a life about to be lost.

“In this way, the use of music helps to express things that are difficult to express, and we hope it will be a way of giving room for those watching to remember and reflect on those who lost their lives in this terrible period in history.”

Jamie Perry, of The Herbert, said admission was free to the three 20-minute performances which would start at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.

“The choral piece One Voice will echo around the new covered courtyard as part of Coventry’s programme of activities on Holocaust Memorial Day and it would be great if as many people as possible could come along to watch,” he said.