Young Virtuosi: 2 weeks, 10 performances and rural South of France

I have just returned back to my flat in London after 2 very intense, but wonderful weeks in the South of France.

The concerts took place in the Limouxin Region. A very rural area that is very different to London. I was very surprised when I got there that there wasn't even a local shop. If I wanted to buy a bottle of water I would have needed to drive several miles to get to a supermarket. Luckily I didn't need to buy water because the local water was divine. From a nearby spring from the mountains. I could drink straight from the tap and it tasted delicious.


This was the 9th year that the festival has run, and it has expanded to eight different concerts in different small villages. The ensemble was made up of 4 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellist, 1 double bass, 1 oboe, 1 clarinet, 2 pianists (and for the Delage, we we joined by 2 local flautists and another clarinettist). The ensemble would split into different sized groups - sometimes with everyone, other times with just duo, quartet or sextet. They played lots of other wonderful repertoire from R. Strauss to Schubert, and Shostakovich to Ravel. Here is a list of the venues and dates, and the repertoire that I sang with the ensemble: 

12th July La Digne d'among
Spohr: Sechs Deutsche Lieder
1. Sei still mein Hertz
2. Zwiegesang
6. Wach Auf

13th July Saint-Couat-du-Razès
Handel: Arias from Theodora
"O Worse than death indeed... Angels ever bright and fair"
"But why art thou disquieted my soul... O that I on wings could rise"

16th July St Hilaire
Mozart: "Bella mia Fiamma, addio!"
and
J Strauss II: Frulingsstimmen waltzer

17th July Ajac
Adam Gorb: Wedding Breakfast
and
Maurice Delage: Quatre Poemes Hindous
I. Madras: Une Belle...
II. Lahore: Un Sapin isole...
III. Benares: Naissance de Bouddha
IV. Jeypur: Si vous pensez...

19th July Alet-les-Bains
​Canteloube: Chants d'Auvergne
​I. Pastore al Camps
II. Bailero
IIIa. L'aio de Rotso

21st July la Digne d'Aval
Arthur Bliss: Two Nursery Rhymes
Dean Martin: Sway
Bernstein: I feel Pretty
A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square
Gershwin: Summertime
Time to say goodbye
Gloria Gaynor: I will Survive
Bernstein: America

22nd July Limoux
Delage: Quatre Poemes Hindous
and
Canteloube: Chants d'Auvergne

23rd July Castelreng
J Strauss II: Frulingsstimmen waltzer

​With 2 more performances, at a vineyard for our sponsors, and the other for the farewell lunch with all of the volunteers who helped out. I sang for both: O mio babbino caro, Habanera and Brindisi.

We spent every day rehearsing and performing in the evenings with one 2 days off in the whole festival.
I learned a great deal during these rehearsals and performances and am very grateful for the opportunity. 

xx