ON day that France decisively rejected the European constitution, Holman-Climax Male Voice Choir were renewing cross channel friendships on another level entirely.
Returning for the second time to the Department of Morbihan in Southern Brittany, the choir spent some time in Sainte Anne d'Auray, which is twinned with Camborne, and close to Plumergat, which is twinned with Redruth.
The links between Cornwall and Brittany are close and many choir members met friends and re-kindled acquaintances made during previous meetings, both in Cornwall and Brittany.
A leisurely programme included a visit to Rennes, the ancient capital of Brittany, and a boat tour of the Gulf of Morbihan, a large, sheltered area of water studded with some 40 islands. The choir sang informally wherever it went and social evenings with Breton friends led to an exchange of songs in both Breton and Cornish. The Bretons were particularly puzzled by The Old Grey Duck, so popular in West Cornwall!
The Cornish choir also sang in the great basilica of Sainte Anne, with two Breton male voice choirs. A capacity audience gave the Cornish singers a standing ovation.
Later, the Holman-Climax choir performed in the chapel of the local convent to some 300 retired nuns, many of whom were bed-ridden and had the choir's performance brought to them by closed-circuit television. A Sanctus, sung in Latin, was particularly appreciated by the sisters.
A third concert took place in the city of L'Orient, destroyed by Allied bombing during World War II.
New members are always welcome at the Friday evening rehearsals at Camborne School.
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