Cantores Chamber Choir on Tour in Portugal
Arriving in Porto on Wednesday 21 October, the choir spent the next few days exploring this beautiful and historic city, as well as rehearsing and performing in some of its magnificent churches.
Our first concert took place on Thursday evening at the Igreja de São João Novo, where we performed an entirely a cappella programme. The following evening, we sang at the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição, with a varied programme of European sacred choral music spanning several centuries.
Friday’s concert combined unaccompanied singing with organ-accompanied works, featuring the talented seventeen year-old organist Theo Mountford, who also performed an organ solo. Both concerts attracted appreciative audiences, whose enthusiastic reception made the performances particularly rewarding for the choir.
There was plenty of time between musical commitments to enjoy Porto, from its winding streets and colourful riverside buildings to its spectacular bridges and views over the Douro. And, of course, no visit to Porto would be complete without the opportunity to sample some of the region’s famous port wine!
On Sunday 25 October, the choir travelled north to Braga, where we joined forces with another West of England choir, Voces Viatorum and sang at Mass in the magnificent Braga Cathedral. It was a memorable setting for our final musical engagement of the tour.
The tour gave us the opportunity to perform in some remarkable venues and share our music with new audiences. We returned to Gloucestershire with many happy memories of Porto, Braga and the warm welcome we received in Portugal.
Concert photography by Pedro Couto
Concert photography by Pedro Couto