Blog: News and Views
Last Day of the Festival
Sunday, July 6th. Impressions & Thoughts on the Last Day of the
Festival
Morning ceremonyceremoney at St. Mary's brings together all 600 choristers, their
families and friends. Shared songs include the Czech national anthem, Ave
Maria and Goin' Home. Carol Beynon presents the newly-minted Carol
Stewart awards to that member of each choir who's best displayed qualities of
leadership during the festival. Chor Leoni chooses Les Nerling for this
honour ... and well deserved it is! Huge rounds of applause
for Boni Pueri and Amabilis for their amazing efforts and successes over
the preceding week.
Depart the residences and Hradec Kralove at 11:00. Bus packed
fully with bodies and overflowing of baggage. With later than
expected departure time, Phil and Nic chosen to prepare a song to be
presented to the choir in the next couple of days. Smooth, speedy
and uneventful trip to Prague.
After checking in at hotel in Prague, the singers make a quick change and
proceed in penguin-like fashion, dressed in tails, through streets of the city
and via subway to the Rudolfinum for sound checks and line-up rehearsals.
What a magnificent place! Dvorak Hall itself, the Fountain Room, the
galleries above, the labyrinth of passageways and dressing rooms beneath ...
truly amazing. (Bruce ponders how we can possibly expropriate this entire
space for Chor Leoni's exclusive use.) Sense of history all about
us.
Performance at 5:00. As we're to be broadcast live on Czech radio,
what was (on Friday) a nearly 3-hour performance has to be reduced to two
exactly hours. Carol and the festival organizers manage this with a
minimum of fuss and pain. Overall the concert goes well. Acoustics
of the Dvorak Hall truly wonderful. Disappointing turnout of audience,
but those attending are very enthusiastic. Following the concert,
the live lions group around a stone lion at the Rudolfinum side
entrance for group shots by Doug and Paul Larocque. Rain drops falling,
but the deluge holds off until most singers are safely back in the
hotel. The choir's last night in Prague is long and riotous,
according to rumour. This blogger doesn't know, because he got to bed
early.
Some thoughts to this point of the journey:
(1) The Festival, now over, was amazingly well
organized by Boni Pueri and Amabilis. Particularly impressive was their
ability to adapt to changing circumstances and demands ... and to explain these
changes to the choristers. Carol was a model of patience and
firmness. I dare say her presence was absolutely crucial to the
festival's success.
(2) Chor Leoni can be justifiably proud of its participation in
the festival. Despite the inevitable grumblings and gripes, these were
few and far between and generally muted. Our singers participated fully
and vigorously, and served collectively and individually as fine
models. Bravo!
(3) A frustration for many singers at this point is that we've not had
an opportunity to sing much as "Chor Leoni." We're
anxious now to "show our stuff" and look forward to hitting the road
on our own.
(4) David has performed exceedingly well, keeping his cool and
providing clear and firm leadership. Caught between the demands of Chor
Leoni and the Festival, it's been particularly tough and trying at times.
I'm sure he's more than ready now to take charge on his own terms.
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