Slovenia Tour March 2009

Robert Talbot

As Frances is unable to travel with us at the moment because her daughter Sophia is so little, Lesley Talbot kindly agreed to be Amabile's pianist for the Slovenia Tour. Her husband Robert travelled with us too. Robert has written the following.

Robert Talbot - an honorary Amabilite for five days - pens his reaction to touring in feminine company (plus David Burbidge of Sedbergh, our Slovenian expert).

After a delayed start from the Leisure Centre (embarrassingly due to the Talbots having misread the pick-up point!) we had an uneventful journey to Stansted Airport, well that's if you don't count having to sort out the in-coach DVD player with a stop at the Carnforth base. It was well worth it though, in that this enabled us to have the pleasure of a complete performance of 'The Sound of Music' en route, which seemed to take the entire journey!

The flight was fine and we had an efficient transfer from Ljubljana to Bled, our base for the following four days. Arrival at a well-appointed youth hostel in time for us to settle into our rooms was followed by an evening meal; chicken and rice was the main course - no, I don't propose to list every menu - but in the early part of the long weekend it became a bit of an 'in joke'. I'm sure that the girls will enlighten you if they haven't already related the tale.

To the music. On Friday morning we set off on the effective motorway system for a visit to the 'Steiner' school in the centre of the capital. We were made to feel very welcome, and the cryptlike hall was packed with a very appreciative audience of students. This is where we first encountered the legendary Igor, our main link in Slovenia. After a short rehearsal, just long enough to get used to the acoustics of the low fan-vaulted ceiling, Amabile made lots of new friends and sang beautifully (as indeed they did throughout the tour), doing justice to Charlotte's and the girls' hard work.

Our hosts provided lunch, (chicken and rice!!!) followed by spare time in the city. Mid-afternoon we were transferred to a Jesuit school on the outskirts of the city for an evening concert with three other choirs. We had a bit of a hair-raising ride (backwards) over an unmanned railway level crossing! This wasn't the only snag; the coach had been switched over lunchtime along with all of our belongings. As you know, the ladies' back-up team is not fazed by anything. After Igor managed to acquire two ironing boards and two irons from nearby schools, one team worked on this whilst another visited a nearby supermarket and proceeded to make tea for everyone!

Several of us were rather taken by an amazing chapel within the building. During the Second World War and the Communist era, the building was occupied by the military. The concert was a superb choral celebration - two Slovenian youth choirs and an Italian community choir from just over the border in Trieste in addition to Amabile. We then had a meal together and the evening ended in riotous song!

Saturday was an altogether quieter affair - a free morning for shopping and relaxing in Bled, a short rehearsal and an early evening concert in the castle. Bled Castle is built on the top of a 130 metre hill overlooking the lake. Unfortunately the sun wasn't shining, but on the walk down after the concert the lights of Bled twinkled on the lake waters.

Sunday was quite different again - weather just like The Lakes! We needed an early start for the lengthy drive south for a performance with the Lipizzaner horses, originally bred for the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. We had an incredible lunch in what appeared to be something approaching a 5-star hotel with almost 'silver service'. The event itself was a truly amazing experience; groups of unaccompanied Amabile pieces interspersed with displays of dressage. A horse, given to the Queen during a recent visit, was ridden to the end of the arena to acknowledge the choir.

Our other Passion Sunday commitment was to sing at the service of Mass in a Franciscan church back in the capital (another culture change). I had a cameo role - to play for a couple of pieces, not having accompanied the choir before, nor even seen the organ. The sound was amazing, and I believe that many tears were shed in the congregation. Igor's host choir provided a buffet of delicious local delicacies, both sweet and savoury. A call back to the hostel by Sheila and co, and an additional hot meal was ready on our return, whilst all the girls' day clothes were dried!

Monday - and the day for departure came sadly all too soon, but not before one final concert at the largest Gymnasium (school) in Kranj which has a superb girls' choir. Three workshop/rehearsal sessions preceded a joint concert for members of the school. The effect was stunning - yet another highlight of a tour which was full of highlights and superlatives. (Lesley and I left the group at this point to extend our visit via Venice.)

We were all made to feel extremely welcome by everyone we met and worked with, the hostel management and staff were super, as were all of the coach drivers. Do visit the country; most people we encountered spoke very good English and it appears that you get more for your Euro here than in most other EU countries. With sincerest thanks and congratulations to David (for his knowledge and arrangements), to Sheila Aspden (for organising the tour), Charlotte, Rachel, the committee, girls and their parents and I ought to include Frances - for making this possible.

Robert Talbot

See for yourself!!

Two videos of the choir singing in Slovenia have been posted on YouTube:

Amabile Bled Castle Irish Blessing
Amabile and Kranj Choir Bunch of Time

These have been posted by David Burbidge who helped organise the tour and has received many emails from his contacts in Slovenia saying how delighted our hosts were with the choir's performances.

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