Each year we spend a couple of weeks in Hungary. Generally we go in May to beat the heavy tourist crowds and the unbearable heat of the summer in the city. Just before we left, a friend called and told us that he was coming to Hungary to sing with his choir. Since we would be in Budapest he invited us to the performance.
On June 25th we lined up at the side doors of the ancient Matthias Church, and to my surprise the huge church filled up. Almost 400 people came to hear the Oakland Symphony Chorus. Those of you who don’t know, the city of Oakland is in California, close to San Francisco; the two cities are connected with the famous and always crowded Bay Bridge. I was surprised to see how many Hungarians came out to hear this unknown American choir from the opposite side of the globe.
Oakland Symphony Chorus performs at Matthias Church.
The choir was established in 1958, it has 120 members and not all could come to the trip. It is a community choir. They regularly hold educational workshops to raise appreciation and understanding of choral music, and of course they provide an opportunity for people who love to sing to participate.
It was a special evening. They sang Mozart’s Requiem with soprano Judith Halász, alto Verena Gunz , tenor Gernot Heinrich and bass Till von Orlowsky – all from Austria. The grandeur of the building, the acoustics of the space, and the smart lighting of the Church – all contributed to the experience. I had not seen the restored Matthias Church before, and must say the craftsmen did a fabulous job.
Lynne Morrow has been the Director of the Chorus for almost a decade. She wore a sparkling golden jacket for the occasion and conducted her choir and the Duna Symphony Orchestra confidently, with a firm grip on Mozart’s masterpiece. The choir sounded great despite the jet lag of their 15-hour flight and the long rehearsal before the concert.
Chorus Director Lynne Morrow (in gold jacket) posing with a fan after the concert.
The sun set during the performance and the colors of the stained glass windows grew deeper. The audience knew the Requiem well; they were clearly enjoying Mozart’s music. They delivered a long-standing ovation.
We spent a truly memorable evening listening to our hometown choir in Budapest.
Specials thanks for the superb photos by Jim Ringland. For more of his photos of the Oakland Symphony Chorus European Tour 2015 please click here.
György Lázár
