St Mary’s Singers is a Registered Charity No.1129722

Just before singing Mass at the Church

Tuesday 25th to Sunday 30th November 2011

Langenlongsheim Choir Twinning Visit

Last week saw over 40 members of St Mary’s Singers supported by family and friends, make the journey to Langenlonsheim, Potton’s Twin Town, in Germany. It was the regular three year exchange between St Mary’s Singers and the Gemischter Chor of Langenlonsheim who last came to Potton three years ago. However, the visit also coincided with the 25th Anniversary of the two towns becoming partners and during the visit, the Twinning Charter was renewed by representatives from the Twinning Associations from both towns.

 

St Mary’s Singers enjoyed a range of events and entertainment over the first few days including a cruise on the Rhein from Bingen to St Goar, an ancient town with one of the famous Rhein Castles. The following day was spent in the historic city of Mainz. One of the highlights of the day was to sing in the beautiful Dom Platz, the Square outside the Cathedral. However, later when actually having a guided tour of the Cathedral, Singers were allowed to sing for a short time to an appreciative audience, in the Cathedral itself, an experience that the choir will remember for some time to come. Other visits included the small airfield in Langenlonsheim and to the Fire Station which like so many in this area, is manned by volunteers but is much larger than the one in Potton with a staff of about 60, as it covers a much wider area.

Saturday was the day when the main purpose of the visit came to realisation with an evening service in the town’s Catholic Church where St Mary’s Singers sang the Messe Brève No.7 by Charles Gounod and Ave Verum by Edward Elgar during the service. Later in the evening, after the official business of the week, the re-signing of the Twinning Charter, both choirs presented their selection of music during a concert. St Mary’s Singers, conducted by Douglas Coombes and accompanied by Ann Wright sang some of the music from their Contrast presentation given the previous week at Dunton Church the finale of which was a medley of all the hits from “Les Miserables”, a selection which nearly brought the house down by the enthusiastic audience. Both choirs then sang Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus to end the concert. The evening continued with the most amazing buffet meal and free locally produced wine and other drinks.

 

Sunday morning, very early, was the time for getting back on the bus to come home and many people from the town turned out to see Singers departure leaving behind an invitation for the Gemischter Chor to return to Potton in three years time. However, the singing wasn’t quite over for the choir as they gave a rendition of “The Rythym of Life” from the musical Sweet Charity, from under the English Channel standing in front of the bus as the train sped through the tunnel much to the amusement of other passengers!

 

All in all, the visit was one of the best the choir has made and many friendships were made or renewed. St Mary’s Singers will do it all over again in 6 years time!

 

Dave Thompson