France and Belgium Travelogue Seven
Dear Friends,
Reims, Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Sint-Niklaas, Dunkirk, Rouen, Caen, the Normandy American Cemetery, Mont Saint-Michel, Chartres. So far, it had been an amazing trip for the Georgia Boy Choir throughout Belgium and France. The boys had visited awesome places, performed in some of the most magnificent cathedrals, seen some of the world’s greatest works of art, met many wonderful people. What could possibly make this tour more epic?
Answer: PARIS… the City of Lights, the City of Love, the epicenter of French culture, cuisine, history, art, and music.
Early on the morning of Saturday, June 9 the spires of Chartres cathedral reflecting in the rear-view mirror of their extra-long motor coach, the Choir headed west toward the metropolis of Paris. Just a few miles southwest of the outskirts of the city sits the Palace of Versailles. Almost unparalleled in grandeur and scope, this masterpiece of King Louis, XIV is the quintessential example of aristocratic opulence. The boys were slack jawed with amazement as they toured its mirrored halls and gilded chambers and wandered throughout the expansive gardens. After a delicious repast in the shade of some plane trees outside a lovely nearby café, they continued on toward the city.
One of the most exciting moments of the tour was the first sighting of the Eiffel Tower. Noses pressed against the window, many of the boys were excitedly taking pictures and exclaiming, “There it is!” They soon got an up-close view from the River Seine as they enjoyed a sightseeing cruise up and down the famous river which flows through the heart of the city. Along the way, they also saw so many other famous sites including the imposing, but beautiful Cathedral of Notre Dame where they would soon perform. Later they drove up the Champs-Élysées, the grandest boulevard of all, and past the Arc De Triomphe to the quiet neighborhood of Neuilly where they greeted and welcomed by the gentlemen and families of the Paris Boys Choir who would be their gracious hosts during their last few days in France.
With so much to see and do in Paris, the next morning, the Georgians opted to divide and conquer. The boys were given their choice of visiting either the top of the Eiffel Tower or magnificent D’Orsay Museum which houses the world’s greatest collection of Impressionist masterpieces by painters such as Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Gaugin, and Van Gogh. As they debated whether they would choose the adventure of the tower or the beauty of the museum, Mr. White pointed out that they were all guaranteed to receive an “eye-full” which would leave a lasting “impression.”
The groups reconvened in the afternoon in order to visit the Louvre Museum. The largest art gallery in the world, containing more than 38,000 works of art, it is impossible to take in fully in a few hours’ time. But, inspired by a scavenger-hunt contest, devised by the Choir’s resident art historian, Mrs. Hannah White, the boys set out to see as much of it as they could and find as many of the “treasures” she had challenged them to find. Bonus points were given for those who could most accurately recreate the scenes depicted in some of the paintings. Here, the boys’ sense of creativity served them well.
As the day waned, the Choir made its way to the observation deck of Montparnasse, the tallest skyscraper in Paris, where they could see the entire city spread out before them in the light of the setting sun. It was a sight to behold, and one that will not soon be forgotten by these 39 boys and young men from Georgia.
As day dawned on Monday, they prepared themselves for their several performances on this, the final day of their tour. Their first stop was the hallowed Cathedral of Notre Dame where they were scheduled to present a morning concert. A large and appreciative audience was seated in the enormous nave, and many others stood mesmerized as the Choir filled the cavernous sanctuary with its sonorous tones. There were more than a few seen wiping tears from their eyes.
After lunching in a nearby park, the singers made their way to their next appointment at Royal Chapel of Saint-Chapelle. While not as large as many of the churches they have seen on their travels, this jewel of Gothic architecture is perhaps the most exquisite. With walls made almost entirely of stained glass, the interior of the chapel is filled with iridescent light. It was a marvel to hear the Georgia Boy Choir fill that luminous chamber with its exquisite sound.
Click on this link to see and hear the Georgia Boy Choir sing “Sicut Cervus” by Giovanni Perluigi da Palestrina in the Royal Chapel of Saint-Chapelle in Paris.
The Choir’s final performance, of the day was scheduled to take place in magnificent church of Saint-Sulpice, the second-largest church in Paris, only slightly smaller than Notre Dame. This incredible sanctuary is no stranger to great music, having employed some of France’s greatest musicians over the years, notably Charles-Marie Widor, Marcel Dupré, and Daniel Roth. This evening’s concert would be held in the intimacy of the Quire of the church with Parisian organist Francois Olivier accompanying. Before the concert began, the boys were encouraged by some of the older members to present their very finest effort in this their last concert of the tour. When they began to sing, it was immediately evident that they intended to heed those words of encouragement. From beginning to end of their challenging program, the Choir sang with strength and beauty and artistry which belied their tender age. They “spent all they had for loveliness.”
Click on this link to see and hear the Georgia Boy Choir sing “Kyrie” from the Messe Solennelle by Louis Vierne, accompanied by Francois Olivier in the Church of Saint-Sulpice in Paris.
When the boys arrived home in Atlanta to the cheering assembly who greeted them at the airport, they seemed to walk a little taller than when they left 18 days earlier. They had grown in many ways. They had a greater understanding of the world. They had made friends on the other side of the ocean. They had grown closer to one another. And they had come to value their families even more for having been away from them for a period of time. Another season has ended. They have earned a time of rest.
But in just a few weeks, they will reassemble, and a new season will begin. 2018-2019 will be the Georgia Boy Choir’s TENTH-ANNIVERSARY SEASON. The year will be marked with much celebration, including another tour – this time to Italy where the Georgia Boy Choir is scheduled to collaborate with the Sistine Chapel Choir in a Papal Mass at the Vatican on Pentecost Sunday, but mostly with continuing to do what it has done since its inception – teach young boys how to be the best boys they can be through hard work, discipline, and mutual respect. They will continue to perform the world’s most beautiful music at the highest possible level. They will continue to Bring Beauty to Life.
If you believe in the importance of the work the Georgia Boy Choir does in the lives of its members and its audience, please consider making a financial contribution and joining the Chorus of Supporters who help make this work possible.
Until next time,
The Georgia Boy Choir 2018 France and Belgium Tour Team