Day 5: Gothenburg

It’s 11:30 pm here and I have wireless internet, but the desk clerk has left for the night and I didn’t get a password – so I’m putting thoughts down in ms word and will copy to the blog first thing tomorrow – something to read before leave for work, I hope.

Up very early again this morning to meet the choristers and the double-decker bus at the AF school for our journey to Gothenburg. We left Stockholm at 8:30 and were out of the city with a half an hour.

All of us remarked how much like Canada the landscape is – check out these shots from the bus window (thank you, Chelsea for taking them for me) we all kept saying how much it looked like the trip up north to cottage country. The only things missing were the Inukshuks to point our way home! Many of us had good naps this morning as well – I think we all needed them.
To all of our surprise the bus driver announced that we would be stopping at McDonald’s for lunch (it really is just like home in so many ways!). We have all been so well fed, none of us felt really guilty about having a few French fries and a burger for lunch. Amazingly, there were a few choristers (good for you, Charlotte!) who, knowing that it really isn’t nutritious opted for salads or McFlurries. Since I have climbed more staircases in the last few days than I have in the last few months – I opted for the French fries.

After an hour stop we were back on the bus for the last hour of our trip to Gothenburg. Driving into the city was also a lot like home – whereas Stockholm is a large metropolis (on the scale of Toronto) Gothenburg is similar in size to Hamilton and has an industrial component that we didn’t see in Stockholm. Once we neared the city center; however, the factories, and, yes, strip malls, were replaced by stunning architecture and tree lined streets leading down to the ocean. The city is designed for walking, and the whole area near the cathedral we played in tonight is closed for traffic and lined with cobblestones and beautiful cafes and boutiques – if time and money were no object we’d all be out shopping, I’m sure.

We arrived here at 2 pm and were in rehearsals from 3 to 3:30. Rehearsal began with a short talk from Zimfira – I thought, oh oh, what’s the matter, turns out though she wanted to thank the choristers for the moving performance from the day before. It is remarkable the love (I don’t think there is another word) that Zimfira has for this choir – and they love her right back.

This evening’s performance was with the Gothenburg cathedral girls & Youth choirs. The church, surprise, surprise was lovely – a different style from St. Jacob’s as you can see – but again, the acoustics were astounding.

Our pieces were switched up a bit tonight – started with Uber, then Salve and then for the first time this tour Nigra Sum (Sonja – I had the Kleenex out before they even started!) then the youth choir joined us for past lives (A real hit with each and every conductor that hears it), the soloists were up on balconies for the over / undertones and it was incredible the way the sound made its way down to us and around the church. Youth choir performed three songs, Tondo, Remember and then a song with the cathedral choir. Much respect to Meaghan for Tondo – it is a remarkable piece that clearly comes from the heart with a sprinkling of innovation and a cross cultural feel that reflects in such a beautiful way what is good about Canadian culture.

The host choir (at least 50 strong) performed a wonderful set after that and even had works by two Canadian composers (Bob Chillicot and Eleanor Daley). Then chamber came back on stage to sing Adiemus and Eternity (pass the Kleenex, please).

The mass pieces were awesome. They sang Hope for Resolution first – it was huge, bigger and fuller than I have heard it – When the anti-apartheid inspired, African rhythm began it rose to new heights. I think (and don’t quote me, because I am not a choral music expert in any way) that the European choirs are so focused on the technical that ‘going tribal’ is invigorating and gives them a chance to let loose – and they did – another example of music coming from the heart going to the heart. We ended with sommerpsalm and another standing ovation!!!

Immediately after the concert, the billet families arrived to pick up their choristers to take them home for a good night’s sleep. Everything is so organized, the families are wonderful and you can see that they are truly excited to have the kids staying with them – if you had any concerns – don’t worry – they are all having a wonderful time, being taken care of as if they were one of the family. We are all well fed, happy and feel very privileged to be here.

Tomorrow is another day of performances with yet another music school – we will be the guest performers at their end of year concert tomorrow night.

PS – 5 more sleeps till we get home – as much fun as we are having, I’m sure we’d all love some great big hugs.