Bilbao UK Visit 2005

Visit of Bilbao Cathedral Choir

1^st – 3^rd April 2005

In April 2004 The Goring Chamber Choir was invited to visit Spain to sing in Bilbao Cathedral and in the Basilica Santa Maria in Durango. The choir was received with the greatest warmth and hospitality.

The Goring Chamber Choir is delighted to have been able to extend an invitation to the Bilbao Cathedral Choir to visit Oxfordshire.

The Bilbao party of 22 comprises choir and musicians arrived on Friday 1^st April. After travelling to Henley they and the Goring Chamber Choir enjoyed a traditional fish & chip supper in the Chantry House – next to St.Mary’s Church in Henley. Following recent restoration the Chantry House is now a highly attractive venue. The Bilbao party stayed at the Imperial Hotel in Henley.

On Saturday 2^nd April the Bilbao Cathedral Choir performed a concert in the Chapel of Exeter College Oxford, and on Sunday 3^rd April the choir sang the 9.30am Sung Eucharist in the church of St.Mary the Virgin, Henley, following which they returned to Heathrow for their flight home.

Article from Henley Standard, 25th April 2005

Chamber to entertain Spanish counterparts in swap visit

Goring Chamber Choir is returning the hospitality ofa Spanish choir it visited last year. In April, 2004, the choir was invited to visit Spain to sing in Bilbao Cathedral and in the Basilica Santa Maria in Durango. And, due to the warmth of the hospitality members received, they extended an invitation to the Bilbao Cathedral Choir to visit Oxfordshire.

The Spanish choir of 22 musicians will arrive on April 1st, and will stay at the Imperial Hotel in Henley. Their first engagement will be a social evening with the Goring Chamber Choir in Henley's Chantry House. They will be given a traditionally English fish and chip supper, and both choirs will entertain each other with some informal singing.

After a visit to Goring on Saturday morning they will travel to Oxford to perform a concert in the chapel of Exeter College.

And on Sunday morning, the Spanish choir will sing the 9.30 a.m. Sung Eucharist in the parish church of St. Mary the Virgin, Henley, before travelling to Heathrow for the flight home.

A few tickets are available for the Exeter College Chapel concert, which is on Saturday April 2nd at 7 p.m. To reserve a seat, call Goring Chamber Choir chairman Stuart Crippen.