I’m a bad, bad blogger. I’ve forgotten to tell you about the main event this autumn. The earth-shattering, sky-rendering, all-time freaky fun event of the St Jacobs Chamber Choir Baritone Bash of 2008.
For those of you not familiar with the event… Er… That’s not very strange, since we invented it this year. Since the 1st bases of the choir have always been the pinnacle of male beauty, intelligence and loudness, we thought we’d celebrate it by: 1) eating A LOT; 2) drinking A LOT; 4) slaughter a few male choir parts at the piano; and 5) be “almänt självgoda”.
In attendence, yours truly, E2, Herr Mürberg und the Castle.
And I’m happy to report that we succeeded admirably on all points. I wont be able to give you a blow by blow report, so you’ll have to make do with some documentation of the food.
And if you wonder: Yes, E2’s a very good cook.
Fano tour 2008 is over. I’m knackered, and I imagine a few others are as well. But hell, a damn fine 5 days it was!
I think I averaged 4-5 hours per night. Not bad, but I must say: Hats off to our two tour n00bs Niklas and David who really showed that they’ll fit right in, they must have averaged a lot less than me 
Extra credits to Märit and Mårten, the tour leaders. Well played my friends.
And credits as usual to Gary, he came through and delivered yet again. I think a few moments there in Martin may well be the best I’ve ever had on stage with this choir.
And dear choir: There’s a reason I love you guys, and this trip is very much an example of that.
Off and out. Up and onwards.
The trip back was… Both god and bad (and slightly hilarious at the end). This bus had a working AC but on the other hand it felt like a ship a sea making more than one person slightly sick.
It also did not take 6 hours. Which was nice. And the landscape between Rome and Fano is lovely. Absolutely gorgeous. Occasionally stunning.
This trip was a good deal quieter than the trip 4 days earlier. I wonder why that was?
And then the last hour. Good gracious me. Hilarity ensues. The driver, who so far had done a good job appenrtly had never been to Da Vinci Airport. And, probably being nervous, took an exit to early and ended up in the woods. When stopping to ask a passing car how he could at all get back in the right direction, members of the male part of the bus took a much needed opportunity to releive themselves. THis of course was alright, only… Mårten choose to do so in the direction of a road… And obviously there was an Italian gentleman choosing this moment to bicycle past… Mårten can now join the exclusive club of people that have peed at Italian bicyclists!
But don’t think the driver was finished. He did find he’s way towards the Airport, only to miss a turn and end up going the wrong way again. This time he managed a full turnaround, asked at a gas stop, and did, eventually get us to the airport.
And there was much rejoicing.
The flight was, slightly delayed on the runway, had a head wind, and subsequently came in 30 minutes late. But it felt more like business as usual, and everyone being tired, you couldn’t hear too much complaining.
And then… there was silence.
Packaged and ready for the bus trip. We’re a bit tight for the flight, so let’s hope for the best eh?
I’ll get back with a summary and a report from the last party… Eh… Later
Teatro della Fortuna was… nice. Warm. Packed with people (including nuns). Did I mention that there was quite a lot of nuns in the audience. Did I? One can’t help wondering what they thought about Veni Creator…
After the break all choir joined up for a bit of Mahler and other trivialities. Apparently, according to Johan who had caught a nasty cold and set the second half in the audience, it sounded “actually quite good”.
The party afterwards where a large sea-front self service restaurant. When we arrived they weren’t ready for us. A bit strange considering the length of the concert. Half of the choir proceeded to make the arrangers worried by simply leaving for the pub next door (prompting nervous visit of the like “you will came back, won’t you?”) where the evenings first beer was promptly had.
This day also passed fairly slowly. There was a nice little street fair in town before lunch. I haven’t seen any big purchases so far, but who knows.
Lasse and Staffan have found a *very* nice little restaurant down town which they subsequently have had every meal at. Having been there I understand completely. It was damn nice indeed.
Last concert is at the Teatro della Fortuna instead of the church. A cute little Italian theater. Acoustics were… Good. I think. It’s always hard to judge in theaters, but it felt rather exact if not very helpful.
There’s gonna be a lot of people on stage tonight when all participants join together.
And, no: I still haven’t had any Brudetto. But I have high hopes!
No picture closing yesterday I’m afraid. Not because I don’t have them, but because I’ve been threatened with bodily harm should I ever publish 
The evening after the concert started at the local bar at the hotel and at a restaurant across the railway. And I thought: Gosh, I’m really getting material for a blog post here! Only… My cup overfloweth, what started as a slightly hysterical evening ended up being… A *very* hysterical evening.
It included, but is very much not limited to…
- “Jo, men det var en musikalisk tupp”
- Hysterisk skrattande, som sköljde som vågor över damkören
- Pistoler och granater (in picciol tempo – *klick*)
- An Italiensk kvinna som 1) hittade på en drink som var, citat “sjukt god”; 2) blev serenadiserad; och 3) svimmade. I den ordningen.
- Småååå pupiller.
- Sjungande (?!) Italienare
- “You are with the Swedish choir? Then you can go back to them…”
- The inquisitional force of Anna-Lulle
- Ett bad. 0330?
- Drinkar!
The evening ended in room 65 where the last brave men and women held out ’till 0500. Last men, and women, standing were Lulle, Anna, David, yours truly, Mathias, Jocke and Niklas.
St Jacobs Chamber Choir at their finest!
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