Marion

When I checked the St. Chapelle concert schedule on www.ampconcerts, I think I am seeing one scheduled for Friday (Vendredi) September 8th at 19:15 (7:15pm) -- Vivaldi/Mozart. However, my basic French fails me with the prior heading -- can anyone tell me what this heading means: <BR>Septembre 21h Ste Chapelle <BR>Are there 2 concerts --- one at 9pm & one at 7:15? -- on the same date. or is the heading below for Schubert, etal, the 2nd concert on the 9th? or am I totally translation impaired??? <BR> <BR>Thanks, <BR> <BR>

Bob Brown

My understanding is that there are indeed two concerts on the same evening at Ste. Chapelle. When we were there last September, there was a similar "double header". If Frederic Moreau is still leading the Violins of France, and if you like Mozart and Vivaldi, I suggest the first program. It is the same progam and string orchestra that we heard last year and the playing was superb. By the way, the meaning of the term "violin" in this case is more inclusive than our use of the term. The ensemble includes cellos and violas.

Phil

Dear Marion, <BR> <BR>Yes, you are absolutely right: There are two concerts in the Sainte Chapelle on Friday, September 8th (the first with Vivaldi's four seasons and Mozart's little night music, starting at 7:15 p.m., and a second concert with lieder and arias by Schubert, Verdi et al., starting at 9:00 p.m.) <BR> <BR>Enjoy whichever you like. <BR> <BR>Phil.

Marion

Thanks, both of you. It's wonderful to hear that a) my old college French is not too too rusty & b) the Vivaldi/Mozart was excellent. I think that's the one we will try to book on-line.

Bob Brown

I feel the urge to get back into this one. The concert we attended last year in Ste. Chapelle was unforgettable - a totally transcendent experience. <BR>By getting there for the first performance of the evening, there was enough daylight, despite a persistent rain, to admire those incredible stained glass walls in fading light. It seemed that all 6,000 square feet of the walls took on an ethereal glow. <BR> <BR>We had gone to Ste. Chapelle earlier in the day to learn our way around. It turned out to be National Open Day, so when we exited the church, we had to take a tour through the Palace of Justice before continuing on to Notre Dame. Our entry point during the day was through a security check point into the courtyard of the Palace. Then we went into the lower chapel before climbing the steps to the second floor. When we came back that evening for the concert, we quickly learned that the entrance was different. There was a sign out front directing us up the front stairs into a main hallway of the Palace of Justice; then we turned left down another hallway to purchase our tickets. (I don't recall for sure, but be prepared to pay in cash.) Then we went into the chapel itself for the performance. <BR>The acoustics in the hall are full and resonant that gave the instruments a marvellously rich sound. I can easily envisage that Mozart and Vivaldi had exactly that type of environment in mind when they wrote those masterpieces. <BR>We opted for the highest price tickets which put us about 6 rows back from the musicians. My suggestion would be to sit up close because of the resonance of the hall. <BR>Hopefully Frederick Moreau is still the leader of the group. He is a flamboyant musician who plays with confidence and style. I also enjoyed watching the two cellists at work. They communicated throughout with nods, expressions, and tiny hand signals so that the two played as one. Everything flowed smoothly and professionally. I think you will enjoy it.