Our first concert is in the books!
Spiritus Chamber Choir entertained some rather appreciative music lovers while visiting Eglise-Ste-Anne-de-la-Butte-aux-Cailles today.
Church bells calling
Our first performance was at a Sunday morning Mass at Eglise-Ste-Anne. And while the architecture was beautiful, the sound was other worldly. I really enjoyed giving pitches in that church because the acoustics wold allow me to harmonize with myself. The congregation participated with us throughout - led by our cantor, Denis, we sang a number of French hymns, while also performing Taverner's Song for Athene, Victoria's Ave Maria and the Epithalame from Lasur's Cantique des Cantiques.
For lunch, we again scattered around the area. A bunch of the tenors and basses headed to a quaint little cafe where €18 would get you a three-piece meal! Myself, I definitely enjoyed my lamb with fine herbs, but the beef bourgignon was a big hit too.
And then there were 37...
Sunday also marked the return of bass Bob Serrano. To call his journey to France an ordeal would be an understatement, but let's just say that we're very happy that he was able to join us for today's performances. I'd imagine that as I'm writing this, he's catching up on the jet lag that everyone else has shaken off, somewhat.
A Spiritus first
Spiritus trivia alert: what's the site of Spiritus' first-ever concert in France? The answer: Ste-Anne-de-la-Butte-aux-Cailles in Paris! I'd also accept Eglise Ste-Anne in short.
An appreciative audience gathered on Sunday afternoon to listen to Spiritus go through most of its tour programme. The sounds coming back from both the audience and the building itself were rather pleasing. Whitacre's Leonardo was definitely a favourite, with some members of the audience listening with widened eyes as Spiritus took them on a journey of flight. They also nodded and smiled appreciatively as the double choir hit cadence after cadence in Victoria's Ave Maria. In all, it was a wonderful way to kick off our France trip.
Last night in Paris
After the concert, we were once again left to our own devices. Myself, I fulfilled a life-long dream to visit the hallowed grounds of Roland Garros for the first day of competition at the French Open grand slam tennis tournament. I missed the match featuring Canadian Rebecca Marino but I still caught some action on the outer courts.
Our visit to Paris concludes with a sing at the famous Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris, tomorrow morning.We're scheduled to have a couple of hours of free time before we have to leave the city for Dijon, our home for the next few days.
Pictures are coming, folks! A demain!
Spiritus Chamber Choir entertained some rather appreciative music lovers while visiting Eglise-Ste-Anne-de-la-Butte-aux-Cailles today.
Church bells calling
Our first performance was at a Sunday morning Mass at Eglise-Ste-Anne. And while the architecture was beautiful, the sound was other worldly. I really enjoyed giving pitches in that church because the acoustics wold allow me to harmonize with myself. The congregation participated with us throughout - led by our cantor, Denis, we sang a number of French hymns, while also performing Taverner's Song for Athene, Victoria's Ave Maria and the Epithalame from Lasur's Cantique des Cantiques.
For lunch, we again scattered around the area. A bunch of the tenors and basses headed to a quaint little cafe where €18 would get you a three-piece meal! Myself, I definitely enjoyed my lamb with fine herbs, but the beef bourgignon was a big hit too.
And then there were 37...
Sunday also marked the return of bass Bob Serrano. To call his journey to France an ordeal would be an understatement, but let's just say that we're very happy that he was able to join us for today's performances. I'd imagine that as I'm writing this, he's catching up on the jet lag that everyone else has shaken off, somewhat.
A Spiritus first
Spiritus trivia alert: what's the site of Spiritus' first-ever concert in France? The answer: Ste-Anne-de-la-Butte-aux-Cailles in Paris! I'd also accept Eglise Ste-Anne in short.
An appreciative audience gathered on Sunday afternoon to listen to Spiritus go through most of its tour programme. The sounds coming back from both the audience and the building itself were rather pleasing. Whitacre's Leonardo was definitely a favourite, with some members of the audience listening with widened eyes as Spiritus took them on a journey of flight. They also nodded and smiled appreciatively as the double choir hit cadence after cadence in Victoria's Ave Maria. In all, it was a wonderful way to kick off our France trip.
Last night in Paris
After the concert, we were once again left to our own devices. Myself, I fulfilled a life-long dream to visit the hallowed grounds of Roland Garros for the first day of competition at the French Open grand slam tennis tournament. I missed the match featuring Canadian Rebecca Marino but I still caught some action on the outer courts.
Our visit to Paris concludes with a sing at the famous Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris, tomorrow morning.We're scheduled to have a couple of hours of free time before we have to leave the city for Dijon, our home for the next few days.
Pictures are coming, folks! A demain!
Beautiful pictures. Most of them are postcard materials. Enjoyed looking at them...they're very impressive.
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