Rehearsing in the Palacio de la Paz
SING THE COSTA DEL SOL!: 12–15 MARCH 2025 – MALAGA & FUENGIROLA
This was advertised as a ‘sunny’ trip, both in terms of the music and the weather. While the former fulfilled its promise, the weather was damp (sometimes even wet!), cloudy and chilly. Some participants re-titled the event the ‘Costa del Lluvia’!
It takes a lot to dampen the enthusiasm of TRBC singers, however. This was boosted further by a last-minute replacement conductor in the shape of Jeremy Jackman, whose infectious energy seemed to know no bounds. We had hoped to welcome Sam Evans to his first conducting engagement with us, but a family emergency obliged him to withdraw with two days to go. We were immensely fortunate that Jeremy was free, knew the music inside out and was prepared to drop everything and fly to Spain. More than 100 singers enjoyed his lively rehearsals in Málaga and his total command of the performance in Fuengirola’s Palacio de la Paz.
We began the concert with Haydn’s joyous Te Deum for the Empress Marie Therese, followed by Mozart’s delightful Coronation Mass. For the latter, the choir was joined by four excellent soloists: Harriet Burns (soprano), Emily Gray (mezzo), Sebastian Hill (tenor) and Gareth Brynmor John (baritone). We were accompanied by the Orquesta Sinfonica de Málaga, and all proceeds from the concert were channelled to the local branch of Cruz Roja (Red Cross). The charity organised a post-concert reception for us before we climbed back into our coaches for the return journey to Málaga.
Having travelled to Spain for the pleasure of singing, most of us stayed for an extra two days of sight-seeing. We visited Cordoba and marvelled at its renaissance cathedral built within the walls of the 8th-century Great Mosque. The following day found us at Ronda, where the town straddles the majestic 100-metre-deep El Tajo canyon.
Lots of people helped to make this trip a success, and chief thanks must go to Jeremy for his last-minute rescue. We should also thank our totally on-the-ball repetiteur Andrew Parnell, who graciously switched roles in the concert and added a welcome boost to the tenor section. Our Specialised Travel colleagues Vanessa Kyriacou and Poppy Savage and their Spanish counterparts ensured that all our travel and non-musical arrangements went according to plan – team-work at its best.
You can view a selection of images here, although there were limited places in the Palacio from which it was possible to take photos.
Feedback from our singers:
‘Who cares about the weather when we are having such a good time? A huge thanks to you all and to Jeremy who is such a wonderful man, so full of energy, so talented and generous in sharing his knowledge . . . an immense pleasure and honor for us amateur singers to be accompanied by such talented people. ’ (MS)
‘The concert was incredible – a really good ending to a fabulous trip. Thanks to everyone who put it all together.’ (RL)
‘A great trip, despite the weather; I have to say Jeremy Jackman is an utterly superb conductor.’ (KH)
‘Many thanks to you and the team who put together the opportunity to sing with top-class musicians, plus a wonderful holiday for us both in the “Costa del Lluvia”.’ (J&AD)