The Choir of Clare College,
Cambridge, was warm,
true and magnificent.
Asia Tour Blog - Day 17
Tom Ashton (Dec Bass 3) and Lydia Allain-Chapman (Can Sop 3)
The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge ended their Tour of the Far East with a bang (woof!). After a relaxing morning some of the more gullible members of the choir rushed to Graham’s 1 o’clock rehearsal which was unfortunately a decoy, a hilarious joke to demonstrate his affection and camaraderie. Others were tied up – some literally – in a deadly game of escape room but even the kinkiest singers made it to KLCCCC and were warmed up (!) on time for our 3pm concert. The choir's secular programme opened with a rendition of the Fauré Requiem. We were assured this was one of the two best received performances of this work ever in Malaysia. It was powerful music for the choir as well as the audience: tears streamed down the face of Laurence Booth-Clibborn as Alice ravishingly sung the Pie Jesu. Indeed there were few dry cheeks among the singers, since it was the last concert that many of them would sing with Clare Choir.
more >Asia Tour Blog - Day 17
Tom Ashton (Dec Bass 3) and Lydia Allain-Chapman (Can Sop 3)
The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge ended their Tour of the Far East with a bang (woof!). After a relaxing morning some of the more gullible members of the choir rushed to Graham’s 1 o’clock rehearsal which was unfortunately a decoy, a hilarious joke to demonstrate his affection and camaraderie. Others were tied up – some literally – in a deadly game of escape room but even the kinkiest singers made it to KLCCCC and were warmed up (!) on time for our 3pm concert. The choir's secular programme opened with a rendition of the Fauré Requiem. We were assured this was one of the two best received performances of this work ever in Malaysia. It was powerful music for the choir as well as the audience: tears streamed down the face of Laurence Booth-Clibborn as Alice ravishingly sung the Pie Jesu. Indeed there were few dry cheeks among the singers, since it was the last concert that many of them would sing with Clare Choir.
more >Asia Tour Blog - Day 16
Alex Porteous (Can Tenor 1)
The day began at the twin towers once again for our final “dress” rehearsal before the concert with the MPO. For some strange reason I am unable to recall any specific details from the time period spanning the rehearsal… so I must assume it was largely uneventful, progressing very smoothly with no interruptions, finishing at least half an hour before schedule.
more >Asia Tour Blog - Day 15
Michael Papadopoulos (Assistant Organist)
It was a hot and humid morning in Kuala Lumpur as Zikri made his way to work. The Petronas Towers were dazzling in the morning sunlight, but he barely had time to admire the view as he was running late for his shift. The Malaysian Philharmonic were due to rehearse with some English choir he’d never heard of and the stage needed setting up. Some members of the English choir were already downstairs in the main foyer as Zikri briskly walked towards the concert hall, situated at the very heart of the iconic towers.
more >Asia Tour Blog - Day 14
Joseph Payne (Can Alto 2)
Cautionary Verse, Anglo-Saxon elegy, a Bake-Off script and Minimalist bullet points. It might seem that I am faced with the opportunity to follow this roll of ever more fanatical blog formats with either interpretative dance or improvisatory nose whistling. However, having decided to make a great leap from the unknown into the boring and benign, I have decided to spurn the new status quo of ‘style over substance’ and instead transcribe a page from my daily secret diary. Hopefully this will provide you with an insight into the lowly life of a CA5 (dep.) on one especially uneventful day.
Asia Tour Blog - Day 13
Laurence Booth-Clibborn (Dec Tenor 1) (Power behind the Throne) & Alice Halstead (Dec Sop 1) (The Throne)
“A [blog] that doesn’t shock isn’t worth [blogging]”
Marcel Duchamp (adapted)
more >
Asia Tour Blog - Day 12
Eleanor Smith (Dec Sop 3)
Chronicon de Choro, 916
In this year there was a great battle at First Avenue. And the red team had possession of the battlefield. And the passport of Leofric the Benedictine was lost, and the garments of Christopher also. And there was great weeping and wailing.
more >Asia Tour Blog - Day 11
Olivia Brett (Dec Sop 3) and Jackson Riley (Dec Tenor 2)
On Monday, we had a free day with time to rest and explore ourselves and the city of Georgetown. Our hotel was conveniently located right in the middle of town, or in the words of our tour guide, Philip: “Wow, so central!!”. After a late rise and a leisurely breakfast, where Graham did his best to convince us of the beauty of old wooden piers (“I literally love Piers” – who precisely Piers is has yet to be confirmed), the choir formed into different groups to look around the various streets and markets nearby.
more >
Asia Tour Blog - Day 10
Harry Castle (Can Tenor 2) and Bea dos Santos (Can Sop 4)
Clare College Choir awoke in Penang
In the luxurious Penaga Hotel,
We ventured to breakfast
All looking our freshest
We’d arrived at 2 - no one could tell,
Could tell,
Could tell,
We’d arrived at 2 - no one could tell.
more >Asia Tour Blog - Day 9
Graham Ross (Director of Music)
Today was a pivotal day in the tour schedule – we had reached the half-way point. Having given an open rehearsal in Macau, two concerts in Hong Kong, school workshops in Singapore and two concerts in the wonderful Yong Siew Toh Conservatoire, today was one of those rare occasions when we read the words ‘FREE DAY’ in Alice’s ever-colourful schedule. In essence, it was a travel day to reach Penang for the start of our week in Malaysia, but with our flight from Changi airport not scheduled until 2230 this allowed for a day of relaxation and final sightseeing in the wonderful city of Singapore.
more >
