We’re off. After a full day’s rehearsal with massed choristers, soloists, brass, woodwind and the odd professional violinist smuggled into the ranks, we are finally ready to face the public.
I have to admit to not feeling we were at all ready, but something magical happens when you get all the performers into one room and it suddenly gels, bar a bit of shouting at the sopranos, which happens every year. In this case, the rehearsal ‘room’ was the cavernous Église St Saturnin in Avranches, which, despite the heating being turned on full hour before we arrived, was like a cold meat store. One hapless sop asked the conductor if the heating could be turned up and immediately wished she hadn’t as he turned on her with: ‘Madame, je suis chef d’orchestre ; je ne suis pas chauffagist!’
So, the concerts. There are three:
Tessy sur Vire, Église: Saturday 8 December at 6.30 pm
Avranches, Basilique Saint-Gervais, Sunday 9 December at 5pm
Mortain, Collégiale, Friday 14 December at 8.30 pm
Programme:
PUCCINI: Messa di Gloria and excerpts from Tosca
BARBER: Adagio for strings
Soloists
Catherine Lerévérend: soprano
Jérôme Gueller : ténor
Armel Le Dorze : basse
Conductor : Pascal de Saint Jores
Should be fun!