Medieval architecture tilted against a labyrinth of peaceful canals: shops oozing chocolate heaven and curiosities, and hooves and carriage wheels clipping across cobbled streets.
Welcome to Bruges. A beautiful, exquisite city and host to Bagshot Concert Band’s 2010 Belgium adventure.
I was a musical wag, joining the faithful entourage of wives, girlfriends, and husbands, accompanying the band on its four-day concert tour.
Two performances - one at the Cultural Centre Den Hoogen Pad in Adegem and the other at St Michael’s Church in Leuven - both very different venues. One a modern purpose built community theatre and the latter a cavernous Baroque church filled with surreal artistic installations.
Both however were perfect backdrops to the band’s varied musical menu which included show tunes Phantom of the Opera and Oliver, the Yorkshire Overture and Bagshot March, theme from Out of Africa and the wonderful Palladio. (The Palladio’s exacting timing caused a few furrowed brows among the band although the audience was none the wiser.)
The band’s professionalism, humour and team spirit reminded me fondly of my theatre days and I felt extremely honoured to spend time with them.
Sightseeing highlights were our two-wheeled Segway tour zipping about Bruges, and the formation of a ‘knobs and knockers’ appreciation society which saw many of us avidly photographing the city’s elaborate front doors.
Oh and the beer. As a blond drinking blond I felt I had come full circle although after various glasses I was unable to navigate one coherently.
No comments:
Post a Comment