Paris – 13/14 December

Saturday started cold but dry, in time for us to get up the Eiffel Tower. By lunchtime it was raining and in the afternoon the group split up, some shopped (till they dropped!) some went to Notre Dame Cathedral,  but we eventually all caught up for the evening concert at La Chappelle de Sainte Therese, the chapel at Foundation d’Auteuil. This was very useful for us to get a feel for our own performance on Sunday.  They even waited for us (stuck in Paris traffic) before starting. This concert was a French lessons and carols, along with Mozart’s Coronation Mass, and many of the anthems were sung in English.

Sunday dawned cold and wet, drizzle. We learned the sung responses on the coach on the way to La Fondation. Soloists for the Mass were Amy Kitto and Chris Rooleht. Great solos, well done guys! Milly Scott true soprano voice performed the first verse of Veni Emmanuel, and at the end of the service the full congregation of around 250 people had all turned round to look at the Barker musicians in the gallery as they sung their final pieces. They kept wanting us to sing more!

Lunch was provided by the Fondation and we met some of the boys who train at the “Fondation d’Auteuil”  and some of the members of their gospel choir. Impromptu performances “Happy Day” and “Fields of Gold” as we waited for lunch. Afterwards there were rehearsals for each ensemble, a chance to buy gifts in the Christmas Market in the chapel grounds, also view the Christmas cribs, a football game “France vs. Australia” helped pass the afternoon.

The chapel was packed, with audience standing at the back for the 5.30 p.m. concert. Special mention to the year 11s who introduced the concert items in French: Jonathan Mui, Claire Ferguson, Ben Ho, Eleanor Handel. (Tom Nicholls would have done, but had lost his voice!). We had the first quiet time of the tour….. Dr. Carol’s relaxation exercises really helped recharge the batteries for the evening concert.

The performers were magnificent, Ravel from the string quartet to the French – magnifique, Hindson Australian string piece “Balkan Connection” enjoyed by the locals in particular. Also Orlovich’s “Lo there is light” featuring Chris Ogg got its first airing on tour. The combined items also now a real hit with the audiences, and beautifully balanced and blended strings and voices.  We finished with “Magnificat” as our Encore. Standing Ovation…. “best concert in the three years of the Fondation Festival” They didn’t want us to go home………. the invitation to return is there, we’re going to have to come back!  Some wonderful gifts for the school including a special medallion of the founder of the “orphanage” .

So we’re off to Southend tomorrow. A new driver Barry as we farewelled Stefan and Michael at dinner tonight.

As big week coming up….. and it is so good that the musicians keep wanting to build on and improve their performance each time we work together.

Cheers for now,

James A.