It seems that I just got back from Legnano, Italy and here I am, preparing for another tour this time to France. The first festival that I will be performing in with The Rose Ensemble will be The Musique en Morvan 2008: Festival de l’Oratorio in Autun, France.
We are one of six choirs invited to participate in this Festival and once again, the only United States ensemble represented. I remember when I met the organizer of this event back in November. It was right after we had given our presentation for the sacred portion of the Tolosa competition. He was completely enamored with our group and said that we must come to France in the summer for his Festival. We are honored.
Our first concert will be in the lovely Cathedrale St. Lazare, in Autun a city in the Burgundy Region of France. I have to admit I can’t wait to see this place, and even more sing there. I came across this fantastic site while trying to research it: more on Cathedrale St. Lazare in Autun
The Cathedral was built between 1120 and 1146, the intention being to have a great church (it was not then the cathedral, which
was next door and smaller) that would house the relics of St Lazarus (brother of Mary Magdalene) which the town had obtained in the late 900s. This would, the idea went, become a focal point for pilgrims that would generate the same sort of cash as was washing around neighboring Vézelay where Lazarus’s sister was (claimed to be).
Our 2nd Festival on this tour will be “Festival des Choeurs lauréats” July 28th-July 31st in Vaison la Romaine, Provence Region. Here guest artists from the six grand European choral competitions from the past year will perform in concert and The Rose Ensemble will represent the US again as the first place winner of the Tolosa Spain competition in Sacred Choral Music.
Hopefully I will have some Internet access on this trip. In the meanwhile, I have posted what shows I know of at this point on my Show Schedule page. More to follow!
I would love to read your comments on this post. Please feel free to contribute!