A COUPLE of days ago, I went to the press conference and the signing of the agreement between the Embassy of France and Alliance Française de Manille with Ayala Malls for the 2015 Philippine Tour of Choeur Gregorien de Paris, also known as the Gregorian Choir of Paris, at the lovely residence of French Ambassador Gilles Garachon.
The world-renowned Gregorian Choir of Paris was formed in 1974 to carry on the mission of preserving and cultivating the tradition of the Gregorian chant and to spread the spirit of the choir, which is centered on the love of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The male choir sings at the Notre-Dame de Val-de-Grâce Church in Paris, while the Female Voices has a regular repertoire within the liturgy of the Saint Germain l’Auxerrois Church in Paris and participates in festivals of sacred music in France and overseas.
For next year’s Philippine visit, which was endorsed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, the Gregorian Choir of Paris will be bringing a sacred message of hope and solidarity through Gregorian music. The singers will be performing in several Ayala Malls and various churches in the Philippines.
The choir is composed of 26 male and female of musicians of different nationalities hailing from France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Russia, the Slovak Republic, Colombia, Madagascar and the Republic of Korea. The choir adheres itself in fostering the Gregorian chant in liturgical services and in its concerts around the world.
The choir will also bring with it acclaimed French organist Pascal Marsault, who will perform in a program of sacred music during the celebration of the 450th anniversary of the Agustinians in the Philippines. Marsault will be using the oldest existing organ in the country, which is the 18th-century Spanish organ found in the Unesco World Heritage Church of San Agustin in Intramuros at the opening concert on February 19, 2015, at 7 p.m.
Ambassador Garachon said it will be the first time for the French embassy to do something religious in nature, and that he found it meaningful to promote this event, as he went on to recall his early childhood experience as an altar boy in France. He said the Philippines and France share a common Roman Catholic tradition, and he said that “music and culture is one of the greatest pleasures in life, and that music can communicate from soul to soul and from heart to heart.”
Admission to the concerts are free, and the schedule of their concerts are as follows:
Wednesday, February 18, 2015, 7 p.m. at Alabang Town Center; Friday, February 20, 2015, 7 p.m. at Greenbelt 5, Makati City; Sunday, February 22, 2015, 7 p.m. at Ayala Center Cebu; Tuesday, February 25, 2015, 7 p.m. at Centrio Mall, Cagayan de Oro; and Friday, February 27, 2015, 7 p.m. at Abreeza Mall, Davao. For more information, contact Ayala Malls, through Mitch Hernandez-Suarez, at 759-8000, local 8038; or e-mail suarez.michelle@ayala malls.com.ph; Alliance Française de Manille, through Eliz Agabin, at 895-7585, 895-7895-7441 or e-mail meagabin@alliance.ph; and French embassy, through Camille Conde, at 857-6919 or e-mail Camille.conde@diplomatie.gouv.fr.