2011.09.05 14:49:27

admin

We received comments from a group last week and I know that the staff really look forward to such comments, which make the largely desk-bound job of organising music tours such a great industry to be in. The group was delighted with all the arrangements but this part of the report really struck a chord on several fronts.

First, despite planning for most eventualities, you never really know what's round the corner.

Secondly, everyone has to pull together as a team to get the job done.

Finally, when it all comes together, there are some truly wonderful experiences to be had that will stay with people for the whole lives. . . . . .

"Our last concert in Italy was at St Antony's in Padua and it almost didn't happen. We were due to accompany eleven o'clock Mass and so we set off at eight that morning in order to give ourselves plenty of time to make the long journey. We were well over half way there when an Italian traffic policeman looked through the windscreen of his patrol car and decided that it was about time to pull over a foreign coach and waste an hour or so on nothing in particular!

We arrived on the outskirts of Padua at five minutes to eleven. Anthony, our wonderful driver, took us far closer than he should have done (along streets that he later had to reverse back down amid the blaring of Italian car horns) and when he could get us no closer it was two minutes to eleven and we were still three or four hundred metres from the Basilica. We knew that we would be excluded from the service unless we made it to the church before the priest rang the bell for the start of mass but Antonio, our courier, knew the way and insisted we must try. We poured off that bus, mostly barefoot in order to run faster and we tore through the streets of Padua, cheered on by intrigued locals ... 58  fleet footed youngsters and their red faced, exhausted chaperones.  The leading group fell through the door of St Antony's with Antonio beside them just as the priest was raising his arm to ring the bell! But we were in time and they smiled and welcomed us. Seconds later, standing by the high altar, 58 choristers hit their starting note  sweetly and in unison and they sang like angels. There are some moments in life that you will never forget and this was one of them.

During the service that accompanied Mass we could tell that the Monsignor was talking at times about the choir. Antonio told us later that he was saying that the choir represented all that was best about  English youth and that he was overwhelmed  and amazed that such beautiful singing was possible after a long frantic run through the streets to the cathedral. Once again the congregation applauded their singing during Mass; Antonio impressed on us later how rare such a response is. At the end of Mass the choir had been due to give a short recital in the cloisters, but instead a beaming Monsignor insisted that he wanted to honour the choir and recognise the quality of their singing by allowing them to give their recital inside the Basilica in front of the tomb of St Antony. As the tomb of St Antony was cordoned off by red silk ropes as no one was allowed to do anything other than approach the side of the tomb this was a huge honour. The congregation all stayed to listen and applauded and numerous other visitors to St Antony's came and sat and swelled the audience.At the end of the recital the Monsignor chose to have his photograph taken with the choir and presented them with a medal of St Antony. I think you can say that the choir and the good people of Padua took to each other!"

We are all delighted to be the mere catalyst for experiences such as this. Long may it continue ! ! !

Peter Cook

General Manager

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