We arrived in Lisbon VERY early on Thursday Nov 7th. We settled in, had a late lunch (where we happened upon the Hungarian ladies and Zimbabwean children's choirs), we wandered and rested and found our bearings around the Masa Hotel in the Gran Campo area of the city. In the evening at Aula Magna of the nearby University was the Opening Cenromony and Concert, where several of the choirs from all over the world sang for us and each other. The venue was very close to the hotel, and we could walk back and forth over our few days there.
On Friday we went on a bus tour of the city which gave us a taste of the sights we would return to over our few days there. Then we shared lunch together near the old bullring, and strolled back to the hotel. Later Friday we rehearsed back at the hotel with our musical director Eileen Tackney, and walked together to the venue for out first performance. This was in a "Friendship Concert". Four choirs (from Portugal, Austria, Ireland, and Brazil) sang three pieces each, and in between these, each judge took a turn leading the audience in learning and singing a song from their culture - Slovenia, Norway, and Portugal. We were the final choir to sing, and it seemed well received by the audience, especially our own supporters - it was great to look out from the stage and see the tricolour aloft in the auditorium! Our pieces for this performance were
- Cantar [Althouse]
- Siul a Ruin [Trad. arr McGlynn] (Solo: Martina Lee Boyle, Descant: Áine Duffy)
- The Rhythm of Life [Coleman & Fields]
> front row: Orla O'Sullivan, Mary O'Connor, Aedine Browne, Mags Amond, Brian Derham, Brian McGill, Eileen Tackney, Dermot McMonagle, Terry O'Connor, Liz Murray, Priscilla Gorman, Áine Duffy, Martina Lee Boyle, Pauline Brady
> middle row: Phyllis McMonagle, Rachael Cullivan Elliot, Carmel Gaffney, Carmel Lewis, Clare Crowe, Mary Lou O'Reilly, Kevin O'Connor, Brian McKeever, Claire Finlay, Rita Cullen, Nora Kennedy, Brid Brady, Mary Sullivan, Gay Fannon
> back row: Mairead Conaty, Áine Sullivan, Yvette von Cramon, Pamela Young, Dara Hume, Fidelma Sheridan, Paula O'Neill, Fiona Flynn, Jennifer McEntee, Lucilla O'Hanlon, Gráinne Tierney, Tina Farrelly
On Saturday, people scattered in groups to do some sightseeing and shopping - a fleet of trains, trams, taxis, tuk tuks brought us all over that city and beyond. In the evening there was an optional workshop at the Aula Magna with Helena Fojkar Zupancic. This was a great session and an opportunity to learn new techniques and spend time - and compare notes - with people and from other choirs. In the evening we convened at our hotel for a lovely meal followed by a convivial 'sing song' in the games room. As we had an early start on our timtable for the next morning, we kept an eye on the clock!
Early Sunday morning we returned to the Aula Magna for our Evaluation with the three judges. This turned out to be a mini-workshop for us all. After we sang our three. pieces, the jusdges retired for a short time, then returned and gave us some very helpful feedback, and each did a short revision exercise with us. This was a new new experience for us, and very beneficial. Our programme for evaluation was
- Cantique de Jean Racine [Fauré]
- Fly Me To The Moon [Howard]
- All That Jazz [Ebb & Kander]
We spent the rest of the day at more sightseeing, shopping, eating, resting. In the early evening we rehearsed again and prepared for the final event of the weekend, the closing ceremony at which we were one of three choirs invited to sing. We opened this concert, so could be fully relaxed in the best seats for the rest of the events. Our set for this was
- Siul a Ruin [Trad. arr McGlynn] (solo Martina Lee Boyle, descant Áine Duffy)
- The Rhythm of Life [Coleman & Fields]
- Oh Danny Boy [Wetherby]
Cavan Singers with Musical Director Eileen Tackney and Accompanist Sue Donohoe
Musical Director Eileen Tackney and Choir Representative Brid Brady holding our flag with Judge Helena at the closing award ceremony
We were up early Monday morning for an efficiant journey home and arrived back at our cars in the Hotel Kilmore exactly on schedule at 4pm. Thank you to our organising committee for such a lovely trip, and to our guests who travelled and supported and helped us - it was a treat to have such company with us! And thanks to the staff of the Hotel Masa, Gran Campo, Lisbon for all their help while we were there.
Next up ... the Christmas singing season begins ... we sing five times - at the Cavan General Oncology Service on Dec 7th, in the Church of Ireland Cavan on Dec 8th, in Cavan Cathedral on Dec 11th, on the square on Cavan Town on Dec 14th, and with Cavan Sinfinia on the 16th.
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We are heading to Lisbon ... Wharton's coach to the airport, boarding passes all sorted by Cavan Travel, an early start to what we hope will be a great trip. See you on the other side ✈️
