Choir Tour #2: Central Europe

Choir Tour: Bavaria, Austria, Czech Republic

Summer 2011

It’s our 2^nd choir tour, a follow-up to the wonderful Italy experience in 2007.  We’ve held enjoyable and successful fundraising events (and thanks especially to Terry for her efforts on these events!): 2 “murder mysteries” (1 set in a 1920s speakeasy, 1 in the 1950s w/ Marjorie as a Catholic schoolgirl and me totally out of character as a nerd), and an Octoberfest.  Tour arranged again by Peter’s Way, flights on Air France (more on AF below), and we were delighted to learn that Elisabeth will again be our tour manager/guide.  We’ll be a smaller group than Italy – 24 choir members, 33  family & parishioners – so 1 bus instead of 2.  No priest with us, guess it lacks the cachet of Rome and the Vatican.  M & I have covered almost all the same ground on our own trips, but don’t mind seeing the beautiful cities and countryside again; and Marjorie missed the special Italy experience of traveling w/ the choir.  She helped arrange an after-Mass gathering of tour members to get acquainted and share information. 

We’ve dodged a couple of dark clouds.  The world-ending “rapture” prophesied for May 21 didn’t come to fruition; or maybe we’re all part of the eternally damned who didn’t get called.  And there was a nasty E. coli outbreak, but pretty much confined to northern Germany and the WHO website says new cases have declined significantly.  Plus, with reports that it’s due to green veggies, Director Charles says don’t worry, we won’t see anything but meat & potatoes (and pastries?).  [During the trip it’s reported that imported Egyptian seed sprouts are the source of the problem.]

Choir Italy

Choir Tour of Italy

Summer 2007

            Planning for this international concert tour (OK, maybe that’s a bit over the top) began some 3 years ago w/ an audition tape to the Vatican.  This is the end of my 2^nd year w/ the St. Pius X choir, so some might think I just jumped on the bandwagon.  Not so.  I joined at Marjorie’s urging to help get my mind off department chair annoyances, initially didn’t plan to go on the trip  ̶  we had a wonderful fall trip thru Italy about 10 years ago and M wasn’t so interested in Italy July heat.  And after all, I’ve done a choral tour.  Yep, freshman year, U of R Men’s Glee Club, exciting venues like Detroit & Guelph.  But Italy and singing for the Pope has a bit more cachet, even for an old Presbyterian, plus the choir’s a terrific bunch who’d be fun to travel with.  Decided I shouldn’t pass up such a special experience.  Thought we might find a last minute bargain for Marjorie to join us for the weekend in Rome, but couldn’t find anything reasonable.  She participated in fundraising activities, and has been my personal travel planner for cool washable clothes & a carry-all bag (since I won’t have her purse to rely on).

            The choir’s been very busy over the past 2 years.  Fundraising included a wonderful concert by visiting Vatican organist James Goettsche, a Cafe Italiano soiree, raffles, Christmas ornaments, “greatest hits” choir CD.  Sweet white-haired Sister Mary, who’s also our flutist, proved quite a bargainer in wangling a terrific deal for buses from Albany to the airports (there’s talk that eternal damnation was mentioned in the negotiations).  Arrangements in Italy made thru Peter’s Way, specialists in such tours (Marjorie’s brother-in-law Jeff’s Kansas City choir used them for a similar trip).  The Vatican says choirs must dress uniformly  ̶  we didn’t want robes, instead selected black blouses/shirts & pants, the men’s mandarin shirt collars making us look like a gaggle of seminarians.  And extensive & challenging music.  Charles, our terrific director (just in case he reads this), has done a wonderful job bringing us along, introducing each piece in sections so we become comfortable over time.  Catchy titles like Ave Verum & Cantate Domino, many Italian & Latin lyrics to learn how to pronounce.  And over the past few months he’s peppered us with all sorts of travel reminders and tips; and I thought I was obsessive about travel details!

Friday, June 22:

            We give an Andiamo a Roma concert at church with all our Italy music.  After some rehearsal confusion about lining up and marching in, Marjorie says our procession is impressive.  Don’t know that “master” is the best word, but it seems we’re on top of the music.  I’m next to a tenor w/ a big voice but feel good that I’m able to hit my bass notes w/ confidence (mostly, anyway).  A standing ovation from the audience, Charles seems pleased.  Guess we’re ready; maybe Charles won’t make us practice on the flights and bus rides.  And my chiropractor, who I’ve seen after back problems on our early May Greece trip, says my joints are aligned and good to go.