Thursday´s Happenings!

It is now 11 pm and our bus recently returned us to our hotel following a full day. After a truly sumptious breakfast with more selections and delicacies than you can imagine in one spread, the morning was spent with free time in Sitges, a lovely seaside town just south of Barcelona. Lynne, Donna and Judy spent the morning strolling the promenade along the Mediterranean toward the church in Sitges, wandering around the open air market surrounding the church, followed by lunch at a restaurant¨named Picnic looking at the sailboats and sun bathers on the sand, all of us admiring the beautiful clear blue water.

Our tour guide, Oriol Braso met our group and we boarded the bus for an afternoon and evening in Barcelona. The group toured the Palau de la Musica Catalana, an ornate music hall designed by Domenic i Montaner, and we were unofficially allowed to sing one piece in the hall whose acoustics are terrific and the hall is designed to resemble and look like a garden. The walls are a combination of stained glass and mosaics and the interior can be seen on the earliest post to this blog.

Afterward, many of us toured the Picasso Museum seeing many pieces from his youngest period, approximately 14 years of age through 21. The works here are not at all what the you would think would come from the Picasso many of us have come to know. Dinner was at various restaurants and five of us enjoyed fabulous seafood at Seven Doors Restaurant, which has been open 160 years. The connection here is not permitting us to post images.
More to come another day!

We made it to Barcelona and are still standing!

What a day (or two) this has been! We hit the ground running taking in many sites, the most spectacular of which was the Sagrada Familia, designed by Antonin Gaudi. Our tour began with a bus tour to Montjuic, giving us a panoramic view of the port and city of Barcelona. After touring the Sagrada Familia, after a quick bite of lunch we toured a bit seeing more Gaudi and Modernista architecture. We then went to the Barri Gothic seeing the Santa Maria del Mar and on to the Barcelona Cathedral. More details later. Our legs and bodies were very tired and headed for our hotel in Sitges. After a shower, splendid dinner, several took a quick stroll on the beach before retiring for bed. Sleep in a bed will be a very good thing! We tried to send a pic but dealing with a computer in Spanish is too much for our tired brains tonight.

See you at Eight and Don't be Late

Rehearsals are now complete and the packing is completed (or in the process). The image above is the group at our last rehearsal on Monday evening with a few friends and family providing an audience and their moral support. Hopefully most of us will get some sleep tonight and be prepared to arrived at the Oklahoma City airport bright and early at 8 a.m. We are all very excited about the adventures that lie ahead. The journey has begun. Blessings and fond thoughts to our friends and family who are reading these posts. We will be looking out for each other in the days ahead. Next post, we are in SPAIN!

How can we keep from singing?

A friend at church asked me what we were singing in Spain so I thought I would answer that question for anyone who is wondering. We are singing mostly sacred music since most of our venues are churches and they are very careful about what is performed inside. For example, when we sing in the Monastery Basilica at Montserrat, near Barcelona, we are allowed to sing 2 or 3 pieces as "an offering to the Madonna," La Moreneta, whose shrine is there. http://www.sacred-destinations.com/spain/montserrat-shrine.htm

We do have some secular music as well---Shenandoah (which we have sung on every choir trip), for example, and when appropriate we sing the OU Chant and Oklahoma. We sing several spirituals which are always a big hit in Europe. And we will be singing in English, Latin, French, and Spanish--Dr. Curtis always has us sing a few songs in the language of the country where we are. We have been known to sing in plazas and on street corners and in other impromptu places---the Pantheon, the monastery at Melk, the Eagle's Nest, Il Campo---after all how can we keep from singing?

Gaudi is coming...two weeks to go...

In just two short weeks we will see the “Sentinels” atop Antoni Gaudi’s Casa Milá, commonly known as La Pedrera. These are just four of the chimneys on the roof of a somewhat dreamy, yet lunar landscape which serves as the roof of this historic building, considered by some as more of a sculpture than a regular building. So much to see, so little time! We've received our packing guidelines from the tour company and confirmation of eight performances. Our music is in our hands, we must be about our task. Stay tuned...

Three weeks and counting...

We are now three weeks and counting to the appointed date of departure on May 29. Last week our music was distributed and it is time to put in a little work for this grand adventure. Performing in some of the world's greatest venues and atmospheres only adds to the magnificence of the total experience.
Pictured is the Hotel Calipolis, our first hotel, located in Sitges, just outside Barcelona. Our group will spend four nights overlooking the Mediterranean.
We'll keep you posted...