LUCCA – August 2006 Report
by Paul Crighton
A view from the audience, with appetites truly whetted
by the 2004 Valentines tour of South Tuscany and Umbria,
expectations were high amongst the camp followers who again
numbered eight this year.
The spirit instilled by Christine in the choir and the
unstinting attention to details of the trip by the LENTO
squad made the whole event, for singers and non-singers
alike, more of a “several week ” event than
the 10 days of the actual tour itself, expectation and anticipation
mounting day by day up to take- off time.
For Yvonne and me the Lucca tour really began with the
final rehearsal at the delightful and quite atmospheric
St Mary’s Church Stapleford Tawney, just opposite
Christine’s home. It was also the point at which we
met Lisa Richards, sister of Sophie, who had agreed to stand
in for Jemma, as interpreter and provider of related services
and information during the tour. Although missing the professional
and enthusiastic skills of Jemma, the now seasoned Italian
tour members were able, with Lisa’s help, to enjoy
all aspects of the event in a self-help sort of way without
problem. It’s quite surprising just how much latent
Italian we had which served us very well, particularly on
finding our way back to the hotel after a long and mapless
walks in the area.
The Hotel Country Club, just a few kilometres east of Lucca,
on the road to Pescia provided all that we needed, including
two swimming pools and amusement, particularly at meal times
where the variety of special diets caused frequent hair-tearing
by the serving staff. The hotel management were also generous
in sponsoring birthday celebrations for a number of our
party.
Our sister local choir for the tour was Coro il Baluardo,
named after the fortifications on the Lucca city walls,
whom we met first, during their visit to England in 2005
and who took a large part in arranging our venues. In addition
the Valentines Singers and Coro il Baluardo shared a number
of evenings together at the quite wide variety of very interesting
places selected by their leaders Elio and Claudia.
The first concert was in the Church of Santo Sepolcro,
Pisa, on the evening of Friday 4th August following quite
a busy day visiting Pisa land marks, a river boat journey
through the Amo river estuary backwaters and a visit to
Puccini’s home where, exceptionally for Italy, his
body is interred. Puccini’s granddaughter was to the
forefront in showing us around and kindly signed purchases
for one or two of us. As a Puccini and Italian opera lover
generally, this was a mini highlight of the week.
Another highlight was the discovery of Lucca itself, where
the next two concerts took place. Valentine Singers only,
this time, firstly at Sunday Mass in the Church of Santa
Maria Corteorlandini and on Sunday evening in the Church
of SS Giovanni and Reparata before and during which, the
support group canvassed passers by and diners in the abundance
of squares around the venue to help provide an appreciative
and enthusiastic audience.
The next concert venue was San Gaetano in Florence on Monday
7th August and the first of two visits to that city of treasures
which, in the view of a number of us, has suffered by over-tourism,
like Venice, but nevertheless is possibly over endowed with
art treasures, in architecture, sculpture and paintings.
Wednesday saw the choir singing at home at the Hotel Country
Club and won, overwhelmingly, the competition with the local
customers and visitors and the activities on the terrace.
A real professional presentation against fair odds, following
the pedigree established in Cortona 2004 where the competition
was mainly dogs and motorcycles.
The final concert was on Friday 11th August in the picturesque
village on Borgo a Mozzano at the Convento S Francesco with,
once again, Elio and Claudia and the Coro il Baluardo. A
wonderful evening, capped by a very festive meal and an
exchange of gifts, before returning to the hotel to prepare
for departure for England on Saturday 12th August.
On the non-formal singing days, visits to Lucca and Florence,
as well as Pistoia and Pescia, were arranged, interspersed
with sunbathing, swimming and walks in the countryside surrounding
the hotel.
Another very successful tour, superb performances by all,
much amusement and laughter wherever we were. Expectations
were clearly met and exceeded.
Best of all, the music programme and its performance excelled
at each venue, being cleverly matched by Christine in each
case to the prevailing acoustic characteristics and physical
atmosphere.
It was good to be in Tuscany again, to have an excellent
contribution from the young members of the choir and to
begin to discover the real charm of Lucca, an outstanding
city.
Where next Christine?
Paul |
