You are always very good at promoting our concerts for us and thank you.
Please could you let your readers know that there are still tickets available for our special commemorative concert in Puycelsi on Saturday 18 October at 18.00hr.
When we decided to put on this concert, there are so many villages and hamlets which we wanted to remember in this area like ours. Puycelsi had a population of over 1000 people in the last pre war census but in the first post war one it had already dropped to 800. This was due in a large part to the death of over 90 men of reproductive age, nearly 5% of the population, in the war. During the battle of Verdun in 1915, Puycelsi lost 5 men with the same surname. Were they brothers, father and sons or cousins?. Today the commune's population is under 450 and only 90 of us live in the village all the year. We have ceased being a village with two schools and hamlets with schools of their own and become a commune with one which is at threat, 7 churches all of which had Sunday services to none with services and the village with many shops and each hamlet having some to shops in the village which only survive because of the tourists;
So in memory of those who have died we are mounting this very special concert. The Maitrise of Toulouse, a choir of the Conservatoire and the nearest thing France has to a cathedral choir will be coming to sing extracts from the Requiem of Tomas Luis de Silva Victoria and Gabriel Fauré's Requiem and a couple of surprises especially if people clap hard enough. The choir's singing is extraordinary and the soloists in the Fauré are a ten year old boy soprano and an eighteen year old baritone. So please come and remember those of every nation who gave their lives during the First World War and especially those known to each and none of us.
Tickets are as usual €15 for adults, €12 for those under 18 and free for those under 10. Reservations are by email to arcpuycelsi@.gmail.com (prefered) or telephone 05 63 33 15 84.
Ginny
Val says these concerts have rapidly become a highlight of musical happenings in the area. The young English / Norwegian conductor Matk Opstad is bringing his Maitrise choir of Toulouse rapidly becoming one of the best in the country to Puycelsi. We are fortunate that Ross and Ginny are working to restore the church at Puycelsi and can attract this calibre of performer. If you have never been to one of these concerts try going you will not be disappointed. Tickets in the summer are like gold.
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