Concerts

Day One

As the Brighton Festival Youth Choir left the Brevnov Monastery, it wasn’t just leaving behind the centre of the oldest monastic order in Europe but also the scene of its first concert on their tour in Prague. But I begin our story in Homeric in medias res, in the middle, and should go back to the beginning.

The group embarked on its first ever tour at the end of July, heading for the historical city of Prague, not sure what to expect of the next few days. For some, even the flight was a brand new adventure as they had never flown in an aircraft before. Excluding this excitement, the travelling went smoothly and we all arrived safe and sound at the Hotel Rhea, just outside the Czech capital.

The following day brought an early start and some free time in Prague, for some an opportunity to explore the cultural aspects of the town, but for most, to spend parental pocket-money on trinkets.

The party then boarded a bus, en route for the Benedictine Monastery. A brief tour awaited it, including a visit to the cold and creepy crypt, the Church of St Margaret and the Theresian hall where it would be performing that evening. The team were overawed by the luxurious decoration of the Hall, styled by the Asam brothers in 1728. Rehearsals, tea and make-up filled the hours leading up to the concert.

The concert hall filled quickly with a responsive and appreciative audience who thoroughly enjoyed the music, or at least pretended to. The group was beaming with pride at the end, pleased at the reception of its debut concert in the Czech Republic. The rest of the evening was spent in recollection of the day’s events and girly chats.

Day Two

The second day was more leisurely as there was no concert that afternoon, but that didn’t stop the assemblage having a morning rehearsal in the hotel, then into town for more shopping or visits to educational museums. The evening brought about more interesting events on the River Vltava whilst having a buffet dinner cruise. After dinner games saw the pianist in make-up, the tour guide waltzing and other dares. The evening ended with one of the singers nearly falling overboard into, it is rumoured, a crocodile infested river and the conductor almost having a heart-attack as a result.

Day Three

The third day away saw the group in morning rehearsals again, and leisure time in town as before.

The concert for that evening was to take place in the local Spa town of Podebrady in the Colonnade Hall. Although there wasn’t much time to appreciate it, the hall is set in beautiful parks surrounded by small cafés. Although the event was poorly attended, the choir felt that it was a huge milestone for them, showing the remarkable improvement in the musical quality of the choir and the vast distance it has come since the choir’s founding three years ago.

Day Four

Our last day was marked by a last visit to the centre of town, soaking up the last bit of Prague before heading home.

The choir returned to England a little bit worse for wear due to fun-filled days and sleepless nights but all were glad to have had this experience and are impatiently awaiting their next tour.