More from the spectacular International Tour of St Paul’s College Chapel Choir.
For some members of the Choir this visit was their first time to the ‘City of Light’ but they made sure it was for them their ‘city of music’. Having a well-prepared programme from the UK leg of the tour three concerts were given in the most amazing places of worship in Paris.
La Madeliene – 7 January 2025. The first church was a rehearsal and performance at Égise de la Madeliene dedicated in 1764 and re-purposed in 1814 in the Neo Classical Style by Napoleon Bonapart as a monument to his victories in war, and completed as a church again 1842. Its entrance, like that of an ancient Greek Temple, leads you into a sumptuous and enormous interior that provides an outstanding acoustic for voice ensemble and particularly for organ music.
The College Choir was delighted to welcome the Australian Ambassador to France, Her Excellency Lynette Wood. She greatly enjoyed the concert and greeted the choir members afterwards and commented on X “It is a great pride to witness the talent of the 32 talented choristers of the choir at St Paul’s College, University of Sydney. Thank you to them for this magical performance in the heart of Paris.” She invited the choir to the embassy the next day for a tour of the art collection. The Choir was also delighted that the legendary Australian soprano Siobhan Stagg came along to attend the concert. Siobhan commented that it was a similar tour that she did whilst a chorister at the Choir of Trinity College Melbourne that inspired her to pursue an international career in singing – that has taken to her as a soloist with the Berlin Philharmonic, Royal Opera House, Deutsche Oper Berlin and more.
St Paul’s College Choir singing in front of the altar with the painting by Jules-Claude Ziegler (1804–1856) which depicts major events in the history of Christianity above, their voices rose into the marvellous acoustic performing a range of works from the baroque to modern Australian including Gabriel Fauré’s Cantique de Jean Racine. Fauré was the Organist at La Madeleine from 1896-1905. Both College Organist David Drury and our Organ Scholar Bailey Yates played the Chancel organ built by the revered organ firm of Cavaillé-Coll in 1842.
Saint-Sulpice – 8 January 2025
Apart from rollicking around the Eiffel Tower, museums and cafes the choir had more work for Concert No. 2 on 8 January in the baroque interior of Égise Saint-Sulpice of 1646. This stunning church is the third largest in Paris and it has another huge acoustic to come to terms with. The choir under the masterful lead of Jack Stephens sang a range of acapella pieces and in the very French church tradition these were interspersed with organ improvisations on the chancel organ by David Drury.
The concerts in Paris also featured a new composition by a member of the Choir, William Varga, who set the poem ‘Faith, Love and Death’ by Old Pauline Dowell O’Reilly. Dowell O’Reilly was a member of NSW Parliament in the late 19th Century, and who moved the first motion in favour of Women’s suffrage in New South Wales.
The choristers found a fascinating place to change and prepare for the service in their allocated room in the crypt, where another small organ was used. This room led into the foundations of the church where remnants of the original 13th century structure can be found.
Saint-Eustache – 9 January 2025
The final concert was held on the night of 9 January at Église Saint-Eustache, the second largest church in Paris, built between 1532 and 1633 with is flying buttresses in Gothic style. This church contains some important Renaissance art and one of the highest vaulted church ceilings in Europe. This presented another challenging acoustic for the choir who were accompanied by David Drury playing the 8,000 pipe grand organ (one of the largest organs in France). This final concert featured the Choir’s largest works on the tour – centred around Jean Langlais’ epic Messe Solenelle. At a huge surprise, the Choir was thrilled to discover that Madame Langlais (the widow of Jean Langlais), had heard about the concert that would feature her late husband’s work.
Pictures: Vanessa Agius, Noel Debien, Richard Morgan
