The following morning, having been rudely awoken by the native shrieking sea-gulls, folks trooped down to the large oak panelled dining room for some brekky and caffeine. It was great to see the full gathering of choir, choir partners and families. This was always the inclusive objective of the celebration weekend – plus it made for a ready made audience for concerts.
There are many reasons why choir tours are so enjoyable. Musically they are an opportunity to master a set of pieces, to really gel as a choir and to perform at our best in impressive venues to responsive and large audiences. Socially, it gives us time together. Old friendships can be nurtured and watered with alcohol. New bonds form and more recent members are integrated into the group.
We start with a montage introducing you to the characters. Some sit bleary-eyed in a car on the still-dark M25 quietly listening to the cricket. Others are sipping Buck’s Fizz and learning rude Spanish on the 06:34 from Reading to Gatwick.
Burgos was lovely, if cold. Its highlights include beautifully intertwined pollarded plane trees, a castle on a hill, a museum and the cathedral. This last was large but somewhat cluttered with side chapels. An extremely comprehensive audio guide pointed out the many features but was most proud of the coffin of El Cid, a local hero / brutal mercenary / sophisticated man of many cultures. The coffin is rather short and has locks on the side, implying some concern he might burst out again. In my patchy hand-written notes from tour I have written ‘attacked by an eagle’ next to El Cid’s coffin. I now have no idea why.
Burgos cathedral contains an undisclosed piece of Thomas Becket, a holy relic of the meddlesome priest murdered in Canterbury cathedral. This link to medieval Christendom is a reminder of the time when believers from Britain would go on pilgrimages across Europe. Both Burgos and our first two concert venues sit on the road to Santiago de Compostela, a route still in use today.
Before the concert we had a group meal, in an otherwise deserted local restaurant. Rice with vegetables (controversially called paella) was followed by meat, except for vegetarians who were given a special card to guide the restaurant. There were two waiters, one big, one small, who gave out portions in proportion to their size. Wine was taken and there was a relaxed energy to the room. There’d been fewer copies on the coach – we were mastering the new pieces and we knew it.
Some walked back to the church and were awarded by an encounter with a large flock of sheep passing through the town. Once again there was a large friendly audience. The local informality went a little too far as some guys taking photos carried on talking during a quiet piece. Chris H had to deploy his sideways death stare while conducting; Paddington Bear would have approved. Another good concert, with fewer rough edges and some audience dancing during Chili. They saved their standing ovation for the end, but it was no less appreciated.
Within any good story, you know our heroes will triumph in the end but there has to be some trials and tribulations first. Think of 1940-41 in World War Two, or Luke Skywalker losing his wing-man attacking the Death Star. Was our day in Ávila like Pearl Harbour, our darkest-before-the-dawn moment?
We arrived in the walled medieval city of Ávila, left our belongings in the Auditorio de San Francisco, a deconsecrated church and went to find lunch. Some of us ended up in the house of Tomás Luis de Victoria, whose music we were singing on tour. He was out, but we still ate in his restaurant which had an enjoyably hard to translate menu.
The Final Push
There was a festival in the town that day. In our hotel and around town we saw ladies in amazing wide and gorgeously patterned dresses. The men were also in bright traditional dress. I’m told the choir uniform sub-committee was taking notes. Raucous bands, with drums and brass filled the streets and led general dancing, everyone was having a great time.
On time for once, we walked on for the concert (past Charlie Steer’s smiling Spanish twin) into an audience of around 450 filling the cathedral and sitting close around us. Any tiredness was swept away by a huge wave of adrenaline.
I always think you could do an interesting video, comparing a choir before a concert, nervously pacing and grimacing at sheet music with the chattering, grinning loons afterwards, spinning around the room and excitedly sharing the joy of a great gig, riding the endorphin rush together.
Like this we spilled onto the streets of Salamanca back to the hotel, being spotted and congratulated by audience members on the way. A quick change and out into a bar. We wanted drink and we wanted to be together and so found a bar for some dancing. Slowly those with less energy, or with fewer moves like Jagger broke from the Status Quo and drifted back to bed.
Howard Jenner says
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Reading Phoenix Choir’s festive recording to feature on Classic FM this Christmas
Concert marks the choir’s 800th performance
One of only 10 choirs selected from entrants worldwide
Reading Phoenix Choir is thrilled to return to Reading Concert Hall for its annual concert, this year welcoming as its guests rising stars from the Young Classical Artists Trust Philip Higham (cello) and Alasdair Beatson (piano).
HIGHLIGHTS OF SEASON 46
- Singing the Lobet Den Herrn at the St Sepulchre without Newgate Church for the Brandenburg Festival. Learning this fantastic ( and long!) Bach choral piece from memory was a huge challenge
- The choir celebrated its 800th concert performance at the Reading Concert Hall and was joined by the chart topping classical pianist Ji Liu.
Cork International Choral Festival
The undoubted highlight of the season was qualifying and participating in the Cork International Choral Festival. It was a hugely enjoyable social and singing event for the choir with an emotional roller-coaster of both elation and disappointment.
The choir flew en masse to Cork and sang ‘Train’ at the airport before checking in at the Maldron Hotel. As well as the main competition in the City Hall , the choir performed at fringe and church concert venues.
30 April 2015 – Triskel Christchurch, Cork (Cork International Choral Festival Fringe Concert)
1 May 2015 – Maldron Hotel, Cork (Cork International Choral Festival Choral Trail)
2 May 2015 – City Hall, Cork (Cork International Choral Festival Fleischmann Competition)
2 May 2015 – St Francis Church, Cork (Cork International Choral Festival)
3 May 2015 – City Hall, Cork (Cork International Choral Festival Gala Concert)
Cork International Choral Festival – Competition Pieces
- Salvator Mundi – Thomas Tallis
- I Know My Soul hath Power – Charles Parry
- Ave Maris Stella -James MacMillan
- Hodie Christus Natus Est – Poulenc
The standard of singing and performance from the participating choirs in the choral competition was very high. Reading Phoenix put its heart and soul into the performance and we thought we had done quite well – however the judges were more taken with the elite national youth choirs and semi-professional singers rather than a hard working choir from Berkshire. The disappointment at coming last was visceral, but the choir still celebrated like we’d won anyway!
CHAIRMAN Robert Jackson
LIST OF ENGAGEMENTS
20 September 2014 – Holy Trinity Church, Theale
27 September 2014 – St John’s Church, Alresford
18 October 2014 – Christ Church URC, Henley
15 November 2014 – St George’s Church, Tilehurst, Reading (Schools Workshop with Wilson Primary School)
13 December 2014 – Reading Minster, Reading (Carol Concert)
24 January 2015 – St Sepulchre without Newgate Church, London (Brandenburg Choral Festival)
7 February 2015 – All Saints Church, Reading
28 February 2015 – Trinity Church, Lower Earley, Reading (with Jewel Tones)
16 March 2015 – All Saints Church, Windsor (BBC Easter Programme Recording)
21 March 2015 – St Mary’s Church, Slough (Schools Workshop with St Bernard’s Prep School)
16 May 2015 – Concert Hall, Reading Town Hall, Reading (Annual Concert with Ji Liu, piano)
13 June 2015 – Church of the Ascension, Burghclere
11 July 2015 – Reading Minster, Reading (Come and Sing, Verdi Requiem)
Last night Reading Phoenix Choir filled the magnificent St Clement Danes, the Central Church of the RAF, with music in an exciting and varied concert. In the choir’s first full concert in London as part of the Brandenburg Choral Festival, the concert was centred on pieces by the eponymous “Mr Bach and Mr Handel”. The choir opened the first half with Handel’s rousing Zadok the Priest, a truly spine-tingling experience as Christopher Enston’s superb organ playing led into the uplifting opening chords. Bach’s Lobet den herrn perfectly suited the acoustics and ambience of this lovely church and gave the choir an opportunity to really enjoy this challenging piece.
Reading Phoenix Choir is performing with Reading Minster Boys’ Choir for a Christmas carol concert at Reading Minster of St Mary the Virgin on Saturday 14th December at 5pm.
