It’s Thursday, so it must be Belgium….
(Music clips on this page are taken from the choir’s recordings and are not live performances.)
The Choir’s most ambitious European tour to date took it to three countries, undertaking six concerts, two church services and two impromptu recitals in cathedrals, and travelling more than 2,100 miles in eight days.
Saturday/Sunday ~ the gruelling schedule of events began straight after our arrival in Europort with a Palm Sunday morning service in the Scots International Kirk in Rotterdam, this in spite of an overnight loss of two hours due to the beginning of British Summer Time and the coincidental shift of the continental clocks. After the service there was only time for a quick cup of coffee and it was on to the coaches for a 200-mile journey into Germany to visit our good friends, the Podinghausen Gemischter Chor, for a joint concert that evening before a capacity audience in the magnificent new assembly hall in the High School at Enger.
Monday – was a free day, but that only meant that our German hosts were free to take us all over the countryside, including the historic city of Munster with its Peace Hall, the magnificent Cathedral, where the Choir gave a memorable impromptu performance of Schubert’s “Zum Sanctus” and the astonishing astronomical clock, built in the 14th century and due to continue until the year 2071.
Tuesday – took us to the beautiful mediaeval city of Minden where we were given a civic reception and lunch by the Oberburgermeister and the City Council, followed by a tour of the city and a visit to the Cathedral, where again the highlight of that visit was the singing of Tchaikovsky’s “Hear Lord Our God Have Mercy”. Our concert that evening was in the impressive Marien Church where three male voice choirs were in attendance. This concert proved to be one of the high spots of the tour when the Choir made many new friends. Such was the atmosphere that we received a standing ovation from the capacity crowd.
Wednesday – saw the suitcases repacked and it was off on the 120 mile journey south to Remscheid and the Bergischer Mannerchor. The two Choirs’ association goes back to 1961 and we were to receive lunch and a great welcome from them in the Hotel Remscheiderhof.
The joint concert was held in the Schutzenhaus, followed by a party when the Phoenix let its hair down – and how! “Never tell me that you can’t move around when you’re singing” said Conductor, Marilyn Smith after a particularly frenetic send up of “Thank You For The Music” and the male voices’ hysterical rendition, complete with hip flasks, of “My Love She’s But A Lassie Yet“.
Exchanges of gifts were made, including a 1961 photograph from the Bergischer Mannerchor of the first visit of the Phoenix to the area. The Choir were indebted to the BMC’s Patron, Dr Wolfgang Putz, for his support of the Choir’s visit to Remscheid.
Thursday – with hardly time to draw breath, the Choir was off on its travels again next morning, this time to Belgium, and its capital Brussels (a first for the Choir) where a great welcome awaited us at the Scots Kirk. Again the Choir acquitted itself well and made many new friends. However, before the concert the members had the opportunity to visit the marvellous Grand Platz and to drink in the atmosphere in this famous tourist area. After the concert, a late night coach trip took us 90 miles to the Royal Astrid Hotel in Ostend where a meal awaited us, followed, thankfully, by bed.
Friday – was a late morning start which allowed choir members to visit Ostend’s fine shopping centre whilst others had a stroll along the beach. Bruges was then our destination, and those of us who hadn’t been there previously, and had been primed what to expect, were not disappointed with the reality. After another feast at a restaurant in the town, a fairly short trip took us over the border into Holland, and a 30-minute ferry trip to Middleburg, arriving once again in Veere, a place last visited by the Choir in September 1996. There we were to be reacquainted with the irrepressible and energetic Peter Blom, Archivist for the area, in the Town House where, after a warm welcome, we had a sumptuous buffet meal. Once again, our concert venue was the Grote Kerk, a massive mediaeval church of cathedral proportions which dominates the town. Word of our return had got around for once again we were astounded that such a small town could yield an audience of such numbers. Homestay accommodation was provided unstintingly and many members renewed old friendships. The newer members were then to understand why Veere rates highly in the league of foreign venues.
Saturday – after a glorious week of unbroken sunshine, we awoke on Saturday morning to rain – and where were we bound for that day? – the bulb fields at Lisse, that’s where. However, the weather didn’t spoil our enjoyment and we set off over the Scheldt Barrier to travel the 90 miles or so to the Keukenhof Bulb Fields. Even in the rain the show of colours was magnificent, – and that was just the vast number of coaches in the bus park. Lunch was provided there, enjoyed by all (didn’t we tell you that the Phoenix travels on its stomach?)
From Lisse we then travelled into Rotterdam, to the Kerk van de Nazarener where that evening’s concert was under the auspices of the Scots International Kirk. The audience, although not as large as those at our previous concerts, nevertheless received us well and yet another standing ovation ensued. Those of us who were not in homestay accommodation were treated to the novelty of being housed in the Seaman’s Mission beside the River Rhine!!!
Sunday – the following morning saw us back where we started, in the Scots International Kirk, Rotterdam, taking part in the Easter Sunday service. The Choir sang three items, with “Easter Hymn” from Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana” being an obvious choice. After the service, a buffet lunch was provided before the Choir boarded the buses for the last time in a foreign city to head for Europort and the overnight ferry trip to Hull. Was it only just over a week since we had left Glasgow?
It’s Monday, so it must be Scotland ……..
J. Lawson Purdie