French Musicians from St. Marcel visit Bishop’s Castle
In October last year members of the Marches Community Choir visited St. Marcel, Bishop Castle’s twin town in Normandy, where
they combined with the local choir and orchestra to give a concert in the beautiful old church.
On the weekend of July 3rd- 5th, the St. Marcel forces paid a return visit to Bishop’s Castle, being welcomed by the Mayor, Keith Pinches and members of the Twinning Committee, and by the Marches Choir, many of whose members were happy to welcome into their homes the St. Marcel singers and orchestral players with whom they had stayed in October.
The coach bringing our visitors, who had already managed to fit in a visit to Gloucester on their way from Folkestone, arrived early on Friday afternoon, and the French musicians and their supporters, who included members of their own Twinning Committee, were whisked away by their allotted hosts to reconvene in early evening Bishop’s Castle Church to rehearse for Saturday’s big concert – the culminating event of the visit.
The rehearsal was followed by a reception in the elegant courtyard of Walcot Hall, and a delicious sit-down buffet supper in the ballroom, the catering for which was undertaken by Marches Choir members Sarah Screen and Carys Palmer, assisted by a number of helpers. It was evident that this function, at such a distinguished venue, made an excellent impression on our visitors.
The following morning, Saturday, it was rehearsal time again. Then the French party left in their coach to spend the afternoon in Ludlow, where a French-language tour of the town had been arranged.
In the evening, choirs, orchestra and a large audience began assembling in the Church for the Concert which started at 7.30. This is not a critical notice, but among the evening’s highlights were a setting of Psalm 100 by local composer Karen Markham, sung by the Marches Choir, conducted by Philippa Whitaker, and Fauré’s Elegy for cello and piano, beautifully played by two of St. Marcel’s musicians, Marie Noëlle Terrasse and Christelle le Bris. Also the Cantique de Jean Racine, again by Fauré, in which the combined choirs and orchestra were conducted by St. Marcel’s dynamic leader Mme Dominique Pinto.
After the interval came a group of British Folksongs sung by the combined choirs conducted by Philippa Whitaker and, amongst other instrumental items, a Sonata for Flute and Violin by Telemann, especially arranged for orchestra by Philippa Whitaker who played the flute joined by Dominique Pinto on the violin. A special pleasure was the accomplished playing of the famous violin solo Meditation from Massenet’s opera Thaïs, by Mme Pinto’s daughter Clémentine.
The programme was completed by Mme Pinto conducting a group of French songs, in one of which John Bowen demonstrated his skill on the accordion and in all of which the Marches Choir battled valiantly to fit the very rapid French words to the music!
The concert ended with the round Music Alone Shall Live in which the audience participated. The concert, for which French and English forces had necessarily rehearsed separately until the last moment, was counted a great success, people being particularly impressed by the high standard achieved by the St. Marcel orchestra, which included several promising young players.
On Sunday morning it was an early start for everyone, as the French party wished to leave at 7.00 a.m. in order to visit Canterbury on the way back to the Tunnel.
Hosts and visitors alike agreed that the weekend was a resounding success both musically and socially and many friendships initiated at St. Marcel the previous October were cemented at Bishop’s Castle. Full credit must go to the members of the Marches Choir Committee who undertook the arrangements for the visit.
Rodney Whitaker. July 09