Open Orchestra in the Cévennes, October 2003
About 20 members of the Open Orchestra arrived (in the pouring rain!) in the Cévennes, for a week's music making and tourism, performing three concerts, at Bréau, le Vigan and Valleraugue, ending with a splendid ceilidh, in which over 100 Scots and French stomped with much enthusiasm and chaos, to the resounding sound of the orchestra's own ceilidh band.
They stayed in various gîtes and houses in and around Bréau and we rehearsed in Bréau's Temple (the Protestant church). In between rehearsals and concerts, the musicians explored the countryside, during an exceptionally cold but fine week, with the leaves just beginning to take on their autumnal colours.
The orchestra much appreciated the hospitality of the people of Bréau, which included an apéritif after our first concert. The mayor, M. Masseport, was presented with a quaich, a traditional Scottish drinking cup - and some whisky to put in it.
If the huge logistic and financial problems of bringing musicians and instruments over 1000 miles can be overcome, the orchestra definitely wants to return.