EUROPEAN TOUR REFLECTIONS

‘I love the opportunities the Choir gives me to go to wonderful places in the world, to be able to sing with amazing musicians, and to be part of an amazing group.’ – James, Chorister, 2018 European Tour participant

Whether they are regional outings or international adventures, tours provide an opportunity for our great organisation to showcase exceptional local choral composers and the musical mastery of Australia’s “first and finest” choir for boys and young men.

In this environment, remarkable transformations can occur. The rigours of daily concerts and rehearsals raise the standard from “performance ready” to exceptional, also building life skills and lifelong friendships.

Back in 2018, one international choral insider enthused about the Choir’s first European expedition in nearly 25 years: ‘This choir doesn’t realise just how good it is!’

Spanning four countries (Germany, Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic) and delivering seven performances within two packed weeks, the tour proved demanding but the Touring Squad rose to the challenge.

With the haunting strains of Joseph Twist’s Ubi Caritas holding a congregation of close to 1000 transfixed, and audience members craning to spot the mysterious birds during Iain Grandage’s evocative Three Australian Bush Songs, European audiences were able to appreciate that contemporary Australian choral composers are capable of producing some of the finest music in the world.

Given the hypnotic, reverberant power of Sarah Hopkins’s Past Life Melodies, every member of the Choir was focused on working to have every audience member on the edge of their seat – a shared journey for singers and spectators alike.

The sense of achievement was enormous for our 40 young musicians – aged 9 to 16 – who were exhibiting their talents on the world stage.

Standing ovations in Prague. Thunderous synchronised clapping in Budapest. Singing Mozart where the composer once stood in Salzburg Cathedral. These were among the highlights.

Then there was St Thomas’ Church Leipzig, where Bach is enshrined. The significance of this was not lost on the group; performing the beloved motet Jesu, meine Freude only metres from the composer’s final resting place.

Read more about the Australian Boys Choir’s 2018 European Tour at australianboyschoir.com.au/blog/europe-2018

Author: Liz Lindner