Chapel Choir Goes on Tour in Paris

Tonbridge School Chapel Choir spent the half-term on a tour to Paris. The pupils performed concerts at two of the best-known churches in the city centre: St Sulpice and St Etienne-du-Mont. They sang an hour-long programme of choral music by composers including Mendelssohn, Bruckner, Guerrero, Parry and Mozart.

The church of Saint Sulpice is one of the tallest churches in Paris and it is also known because of its role in The Da Vinci Code.

St Eitenne-du-Mont beautifully showcases the evolution of French architecture. The church also contains the shrine of Saint Genevieve.

The Choir was invited to lead the Sunday morning Mass at Eglise de la Madeleine, where they sang movements from Haydn’s Little Organ Mass and Grieg’s Ave Maris stella.

Julian Thomas, Choirmaster, said: ‘It was wonderful to be singing in such prestigious venues. The opportunity to spend time together on tour is invaluable for the boys, and the quality of musicianship moves to a whole new level when they are working so intensively. Performing familiar music in three very different buildings, adjusting to the acoustics and layout of each church, is a key part of why we go on tour, and the boys rose to the challenge superbly.’

The Sunday service at Eglise de la Madeleine was live streamed on YouTube and can be viewed here.

A number of enthusiastic comments were sent to the School:

‘I watched last Sunday’s Mass from la Madeleine, Paris, and I would like to compliment you and your choir on the high standard of singing that was achieved. It looked as if they had been singing Mass all their lives. M. Francois-Henri Houbart, the organist, is a friend of mine, and he has told me that he was very impressed with the singing, and that Monseigneur Chauvet, the Curé, wishes he could have your choir every Sunday.’

‘I stumbled upon the Chapel Choir at Saint-Etienne-du-Mont this weekend as they were rehearsing for their performance on Sunday. I wanted to write to express how impressed I was by the Choir, and also their patience and professionalism during rehearsal was so impressive. We spent a good half hour listening … it was an unforgettable moment.’

See the school’s online listing here.