Amsterdam 2019
In response to many requests for NME to 'do it again', the team decided to offer something different for 2019, this time in the Netherlands, and programme - Opera!
The task is always to find works that will attract players, singers and audience. Derek had the vision of 'Chunks of Opera', more than the Opera Choruses that some choirs may be familiar with. He wanted to offer a taste of chorus, instrumental and solo pieces, and to include excerpts from operas by Wagner. These are rarely performed by local choral societies, but have the majesty of Verdi’s Requiem.
The idea was proposed, and enough people said they were happy to give it a go. Derek's vision was completely realised, and those of us who travelled to the Netherlands were completely blown away - as were the audiences: again two standing ovations. We even made the papers!
We performed in Amsterdam, and in a charming town on the North coast, Enkhuizen. Once again, through contacts arranged by Equity, we welcomed some Dutch performers to join us, and once again they were delightful and working with them enhanced the experience.
The project had more challenges than the two previous ones, but as the collection of comments received demonstrates, we rose to those challenges and delivered a fabulous experience.
"Now somehow have to adjust to being back here. Perhaps Amsterdam has changed me a little."
"I simply can't tell you how much I enjoyed the trip. I'm bit of a Wagner freak, though mainly the Ring cycle, and it was so illuminating to be part of the chorus rather than outside it. Thank you so much for organising it. Please thank Derek as I'm in awe of the way he coaxed a Wagnerian orchestra to Amsterdam and back and got them to play so well. Also I was very impressed by the soloists, all of them but particularly Geoff. The Scarpia piece was gut-wrenching. "
"thank you so much for making the Amsterdam trip happen"
"what a great group of people, and a privilege to play in those two locations with such excellent organisation"
"hope you are back in one piece and not completely shattered"
"a huge thank you to you for all your work on the Amsterdam Trip"
"Apart from nearly getting heat stroke on the canal boat (I do not do heat and seem to carry global warming with me whichever country I visit!), I had a great time."
"I understand there will be a survey of sorts in the future and look forward to contributing to it."
"Many thanks for everything you did to make the Amsterdam trip such a success. It all went so well and that was down to your organisation and hard work not only beforehand but behind the scenes once we were there."
"I’d also like to thank you for everything you did to ensure I could be collected and deposited at a convenient place. That was very helpful and made my life so much easier: if you went to that trouble for everyone then your workload must have been greatly increased."
"It was wonderful to stay in such a ‘characterful’ hotel…one of those places that will remain in the memory for a while! I also thought the coach drivers were excellent."
"Just wanted to say thank you to you and Equity as well as all the other people who played roles in organising everything (including the bus "captains" who made sure we didn't get lost in transit)."
"I was so proud to be playing alongside such brilliant musicians and so chuffed to have been invited to do so. It was a fabulous programme - for me in particular I never thought I would get a chance to play anything from Tosca and, boy, did I relish it!"
"I could enthuse on but I'll leave you alone now to recover. I hope you all managed to actually enjoy the trip too - such a huge undertaking and exhausting for you all."
"It was a great pleasure to sing with the choir."
"I just wanted to say a big thank you for organising our trip to Amsterdam. We had a wonderful time. It was my first time at Amsterdam and I really enjoyed seeing it and Enkhuizen too. What a treat we all had, and good weather too. I think that the Enkhuizen concert was the highlight for me with such a big appreciative audience creating such a special atmosphere."
"Your patience and kindness to us all was incredible. I really don’t know how you do it. Thank you again and all the others in the team for all your effort to bring this trip together. Hope you can have a bit of a wind down and relax now for a bit."
"Thank you so much for all your hard work organising last weekend - it was phenomenal and the level of organisation and efficiency (on your part, not necessarily on ours!) was very impressive. Please keep me on your list for next time! "
"The briefest of a note to thank you for all your time and effort that went into making the tour the success that it was."
"A triumph for all concerned. Really enjoyable."
"I am sure many people have told you what a very special experience we have all shared this weekend. Please pass on my thanks to all who made it possible. I hope we can perform this great selection of music again either in the UK or further afield. It is such fun to sing!"
"Look forward to hearing from you about future plans."
"Thanks so much for all your hard work and organising. Really enjoyed the trip. Looking forward to next time!"
"Thank you for all the organising team did to ensure the trip was such a success. I know how much hard work is needed behind the scenes and, iceberg-like, we only see the very tip of everything you do. Now you can breathe again and relax...."