Barisons Singers and Brighton College Choir tour, May 2023
A wonderful weekend of choral music took place from 12th-14th May 2023, with the visiting combined choirs of Barisons Singers (Chessington) and the Brighton College Choir collaborating with the choir Ars Viva (Evreux, France). The blending of these three choirs created a large chorus of 90 people to perform Mozart’s Requiem.
The group arrived on the Friday evening at their accommodation centre Chateau Kinnor, and it was straight into rehearsals in the pretty church of Fervaques next door to the chateau. Led by conductor Bruno Boterf (Evreux/Lisieux), this first rehearsal was followed by a social evening of food and drink provided generously by the Evreux singers. A lovely social start to the tour to give everyone the chance to meet.
The following day, and the opportunity to visit Beuvron-en-Auge, a beautiful little village frequently voted as one of the ‘Plus Beaux Villages de France’. After lunch, rehearsals continued but this time joined by the four soloists from Paris who were invited to participate by the Evreux choir – Kaoli Isshiki (soprano), Clotilde Cantau (mezzo-soprano), Davy Cornillot (tenor), and Frédéric Albou (bass-baritone). Accompanied by Stuart Whotton and Chris George on the piano duet arrangement of the accompaniment by Czerny.
That evening, the church was full to the rafters! With barely a seat to spare, the audience enjoyed the Requiem alongside other works of Mozart, with a rapturous applause leading to an encore of Ave Verum.
The rest of the evening was dedicated to a ‘Soirée Musicale’ at Chateau Kinnor, where young musicians from the Lisieux Conservatoire and College Gambier (Lisieux) performed their pieces in a relaxed setting and the public were free to explore the chateau and enjoy drinks and nibbles.
The owner of Chateau Kinnor, Jean-Claude l’Hotel, led a tour of the venue and talked in great detail about the history of the property.
The following morning the choirs met again, this time at the breath-taking Basilica of Saint Therese in Lisieux, to accompany the Sunday Mass with movements of Mozart from the previous evening’s programme. This time, accompanied on organ by Stuart Whotton.
The tour concluded with a social Sunday Lunch at the Basilica’s refectory, and the Lisieux choir waved farewell to their guests as they headed to the coach for the return journey.
Our thanks go to the organising committees of the choirs, to Chateau Kinnor and the Parish of Livarot, to the lovely pastoral team at the Basilica of Saint Therese, and to the Lisieux Conservatoire and College Gambier for their support too.
“Barisons Singers have been touring for 20 years but this was our first post covid tour, and it is safe to say what a fantastic tour it was. The people were lovely, and the organisation was 100% spot on.
From the coach company supplying the most helpful and friendly coach driver, to Chris from musiqueanglonormande.com being hands on every step of the way.
A sold out concert and a fantastic collaboration with a local choir to perform Mozart’s Requiem made our first post covid tour a huge success.
The chance to sing for a Mass at the Basilica was also a fantastic opportunity and one to add to any choir’s list.
The price was very reasonable and all was included which made the days easier for all involved.
I would highly recommend musiqueanglonormande.com for any Normandy tour.”
Brian Hill
Director for Barisons Music School
