Many thanks to all those who came to our concerts and supported us with enthusiasm. The choir had a wonderful time, despite a false start on the first evening when Le Globe at Villefranche refused to honour our booking for the evening meal (although they showed us the booking in the diary!) when we arrived to eat. The patron did arrange an alternative at Le France, but it was not the best beginning. However lunch the next day at Relais de Mont Viaur, St Andre de Najac was superb and a great prelude to visiting Najac and the chateau. We then went on to La Vigerie and a magical concert in the courtyard. It was a small but enthusiastic audience, well suited to the intimate setting, and as the sun set we sang a programme of light songs in the floodlit courtyard.
On Saturday we visited the spectacular village of Peyrusse-le-Roc, where the more intrepid climbed the ladders up to the towers on the rock, for photos and cheers. Then lunch at Brasserie le Tour in Villeneuve and a visit to the museum there which is a gem, packed with beautifully presented items including 300 walking sticks,special shoes for shelling chesnuts and hundreds of other fascinating objects from rural life. The day finished with the concert at Domaine de Sautou, another beautiful venue overlooking the valley to Castanet. We sang to a large audience this time, filling thebarn/ gallery, who seemed to enjoy the selection of folk songs, sacred pieces and the choir's encore 'the Drunken Sailor'. We were all then treated to a lovely buffet supper under the trees in the garden, giving the choir a chance to chat to the audience and relax before the coach back to Villefranche.
The last day began with an excellent lunch at La Grange du Cros, following which the choir spent the afternoon chez nous, unfortunately cool and rainy, before the final concert in the Sanctuaire Notre Dame de Livron. The acoustics there lend themselves to sacred music so we sang more early English church music, together with some of the folk songs from the earlier concerts. Once again we were well received by the audience, a mixture of French, English and Dutch.
This was the fourth visit by the choir, who love to come and visit the area. It is a great privilege for us to be able to sing in such magnificent settings to such appreciative audiences. We particularly thank those who hosted the concerts, Jeremy Rewse-Davies, Jean-marie and Winnie Nosal and Denis de Badereau, for their generosity and help in providing all we needed to make the concerts go well. And to Val and TAG without which 2 of the concerts would not have happened at all!
Angela or Graham Rees Les Tourrettes, St Projet, 82160
Tel.: 05 63 30 94 78 or 09 52 82 18 02
