Saturday was spent rehearsing in the marvellous Lille Cathedral, with superb French organist Ghislain, for the concert later that day. Hundreds of locals stopped to listen to the choir, as they rehearsed a variety of repertoire, ranging from the French stylings of Poulenc to some luscious Elgar.
The evening concert was centred around the magnificent ‘Messe Solennelle’ by Jean Langlais. A standout choral work of the 20th-century, the mass showcases Langlais’ distinctive style, combining traditional Gregorian chant with his characteristic modal harmonies and rhythmic complexity. Pupils performed the challenging piece incredibly well, to a captive audience of Lille onlookers. The evening ended with a group meal at FLAMS, where pupils and staff enjoyed plenty of Flammekueches- a specialty of the region of Alsace.
Sunday began with the Choir singing a short recital at the end of the mass service, where again they presented the Langlais mass setting, and some short motets by Langlais and Mr Quesnel. They then spent the day exploring Lille Old Town, including a quick trip to the ‘Monument aux Pigeons Voyageurs’ to pay their tributes to the 20,000 carrier pigeons killed in the war.
It was a wonderful weekend of music making for the Choir, and wonderful to visit another beautiful cathedral!
