Visit to Krakow, May 2007

The Kosciol Mariacki (St Mary's Church) on the main square in Krakow is one of the most important churches in Poland - and on 6 May the Addison Singers performed there! The occasion was the choir's latest trip abroad, when around 50 singers spent five days in Krakow singing, sight-seeing and socialising.

The Chamber Choir was invited to sing during Mass at the Mariacki church on Sunday 6 May - a great honour - and, positioned in the organ loft high at the back of the church, sang four pieces by Thomas Tallis.

After Mass the Addison Singers performed a short programme to a packed church. The Oratorio Choir sang Finzi's anthem 'God is gone up', a psalm setting in Polish by Waclaw of Szamotul and Haydn's St Nichoas Mass, and the Chamber Choir sang two Tallis pieces. It was thrilling to sing there, and the audience was very appreciative.

Luckily we had been able to have a rehearsal there earlier, which allowed Matthew to get to grips with the church’s organ, and David to tackle the challenge of the vast distance from the organ to the choir. This venue is on a very different scale to St Mary’s Ealing, where we had previously performed this programme.

We gave a second, longer concert on 7 May in St Katherine's in Kazimierz, which in addition to the Finzi, Haydn, Tallis and Szamotul included 'The Beatitudes' by Bob Chilcott and (from the Chamber Choir) 'Three Lullabies' by the contemporary Polish composer Henryk Gorecki.

Both performances went well, and our five soloists in the Haydn - all choir members - sang beautifully.

We made good use of the time between rehearsals and performances; there is a great deal to see in and around Krakow. Many of the group visited the Wawel Castle and museums and galleries in Krakow, and some went to Auschwitz Museum. On a visit to the Wielicka Salt Mine, choir members had the unusual experience of singing in an underground chapel.

The visit to Krakow was great fun socially, giving choir members a chance to get to know each other better. On our final evening in Krakow we celebrated the success of the trip with a meal for the whole group together, at which we were able to thank David, Matthew and everyone who had helped make it happen.