Italian Tour
23rd – 30th July 2000
Hebden
Bridge Junior Band returned home late on Sunday 30th July from their week-long
tour to the Lake Garda region of northern Italy. 47 Band members accompanied by
30 parents and friends spent four days travelling by coach through 8 countries.
The outward journey took them from Dover to Calais, through France with
an overnight stop in Metz, then on to their destination in the dramatic Dolomite
limestone mountains by way of Switzerland. The return route was through Austria,
overnighting in Germany at Saarbrucken, then through Luxembourg and Belgium. The
Band gave three concerts, saw an opera performed in the Roman amphitheatre in
Verona, went to a theme park, boated, swam in and pedaloed on the lake, saw some
wonderful scenery and had a lot of fun.
The
Hotel Continental in the small village of Nago in the hills above Torbole proved
a good base for the various concerts and trips which were to follow.
Day
One (Tuesday) saw the coaches setting off on the refreshingly short, 15-minute,
journey to the northernmost lakeside resort of Riva del Garda. From here the
party boarded the express ferryboat of the Navigazione sul Lago di Garda which
took them on a zig-zag route via Torbole and Limone sul Garda, with its lemon
tree terraces and on to Malcesine. It is here that the so-called Riviera degli
Olivi begins – the stretch of lakeshore where high alpine scenery gently gives
way to its Mediterranean equivalent. Large queues meant that plans to take the
cable car 1,720 metres high up Mount Baldo had to be abandoned, but several
pleasant hours were spent sightseeing, shopping, wining and dining. Malcesine
epitomises the culture of Garda’s lakeside communities. The population of
3,500 in this former fishing village now live almost exclusively from tourism
but much of the ancient charm of the town has been preserved. The most popular
visit was to the impressive 14th century castle built by the
Scaligeri family. The tortuous climb up the staircases of the 33 metre high keep
was more than repaid by the glorious panorama visible from its battlements.
After
100 or so ice creams had been consumed, it was time to return to the hotel and
prepare for the evening concert in Arco. When the Band arrived in the Piazzale
Segantini, it was to find some members of the audience already waiting! It was
the second largest group of players taken on tour in the Band’s 29-year
history and when, after the fifth piece, everyone stood up to decamp to a better
illuminated area, potential chaos was averted by the good-natured participation
of this large and appreciative audience. Principal trombone, Lucy Smith, soon to
leave the Band to study at Leeds College of Art and Design, played a beautiful
solo, full of feeling, of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”. A second
delightful solo by another talented musician also about to “retire” from
Junior Band, this time to study Dance, was performed by principal cornet, Cerian
Horne. Her choice was the Errol Garner classic, “Misty”.
After
a varied and well-received programme in a delightful setting dominated by the
126 metre high crag with its spotlit ruins of a medieval fortress, Musical
Director Brian Haydn Robinson took his players back to Nago for a well-earned
rest.
A
long day was to follow, so the morning of Day Two was spent relaxing in Riva del
Garda.
After returning to the hotel for lunch, the group travelled down the 33
miles of the lake and eastwards to Verona, an ancient city with Roman remains
that are second only to those of Rome itself. The first port of call for many
was the most famous balcony in the world. The Casa di Giulietta is where
Shakespeare’s Juliet is supposed to have lived. Other sites seen were the
amphitheatre built in 50 BC and second largest in the world, the Roman theatre
built in AD 10, where visitors found a rehearsal of “Romeo and Juliet” in
progress, and the many early churches, palaces, museums and monuments. One
group, sitting and dining in the Piazza Bra, were fascinated to see the scenery
for the evening’s opera performance being hoisted into the Arena by a large
crane.
After
a long period of queuing for the evening’s performance of Verdi’s
“Aida”, the group entered the Arena and made themselves as comfortable as
possible on a high section of the 44 tiers of stone seating. The Band members
watched with interest as the orchestra was set up, counting no less than five
harps and a similar number of timpani. The carnival atmosphere did not
completely succeed in dispelling the sensation of the presence of the thousands
of ghosts of those who had met their deaths there in earlier times. Everyone was
handed a tiny candle to light before the performance began and the sight of
15,000 small flames held aloft had an overwhelmingly moving and symbolic effect.
Because
of the exceptionally late night at the Opera, breakfast next day was not until
10, followed by a morning relaxing around the hotel. Even so, certain
individuals were not seen until it was time to board the coach for a short trip
to Torbole, more adventurous folk walking on ahead down a pleasant but steep
track. Despite being the wind-surfing capital of the region, Torbole had
something for everyone – a safe swimming beach, shops, good food, a quiet
place to sit and watch the world go by and fantastic ice cream.
After
dinner it was time for the coaches to take the party westwards by way of
alarming hairpin bends and precipitous, narrow roads lined by waterfalls and
ravines up into the mountains to the beautiful Lago di Ledro. At the far end of
the lake is the little town of Pieve di Ledro, in which the second concert was
to be given. Here the Band found a fine, well-lit stage with good acoustics. A
large and highly enthusiastic audience gathered and the Band gave a spirited
performance. This perfect concert will go down in Band history for many reasons
-
the beautiful setting, the music echoing through the mountains and the
superb performances. Julia Martin’s E flat horn solo “He Ain’t Heavy,
He’s My Brother” and Nick Moors’ and Edward Dixon’s side drum feature,
“Come Follow the Band, & Swing March” with a booming bass introduction
by Joel Turner, were particularly outstanding. Displaying his versatility,
Edward Dixon on solo cornet played “Ave Maria” sensitively accompanied by
Katherine Morley on flugel. Lucy Smith repeated her lively trombone solo. Other
pieces introduced by Mr Robinson ranged from
“On Ilkla Moor Baht’At” and “The Floral Dance” to Holst’s
“Second Suite in F Major. The cheering audience demanded an encore, and were
rewarded with a superb performance of the “Glenn Miller Special”.
On
Day Four everyone enjoyed a trip to “Gardaland”. At the southern end of the
lake, and based on 45 hectares of former botanical gardens, this is the largest
theme park in Italy. After returning to the hotel for dinner it was time to
prepare for the third and final concert. Given in the grounds of the Hotel Savoy
Palace in Riva, this was to be the last performance with Band for many of the
musicians. A record number of 10 players are leaving this summer, either because
they have attained the “retirement age “ of 19, or are leaving for
university. In addition to Lucy and Cerian, we sadly say goodbye to Joel Turner
(bass), Katherine Morley (flugel horn), Sarah Rawlinson (bass and cornet), Peter
Ramshaw (euphonium), Dan Croft (baritone horn), Anna Wickenden (cornet), Jon Ide
(trombone) and Scott Brown (baritone). Three players who had already left within
the last 12 months, but who appeared on the tour as guests, are Matthew Whewell
(cornet), Sam Hallgarth (euphonium) and Laura Denning (cornet).
A
large number of hotel guests and passers-by gathered to hear the Band, and many
compliments were paid to Mr Robinson on the excellence of his players.
Katherine Morley gave a beautiful farewell flugel solo, the Darrol Barry
arrangement of
“Don’t It Make Your Brown Eyes Blue” by Richard Leigh. Premiered at
this concert was “Foxtrot for Friends” featuring a fine performance from the
cornet and euphonium sections.
Sadly,
the Band had to pack away extra quickly after their “You’ll Never Walk
Alone” encore in order to allow the drivers the required legal break before
the next morning’s early start on the homeward journey.
Thanks
are due to Sue Day and Liz Horne for all their hard work and for the varied,
interesting and well-planned itinerary, offering something for everyone – no
mean feat for a group comprising an age range from 11 to 78.
Thanks
are also, of course, due to the children themselves for their dedication and
input over the last two years. Their playing, together with the support of
committee, families and friends helped to raise sufficient funds to
significantly subsidise their contribution to the Tour costs. These proceeds,
together with the Fund-raising Committee’s efforts and the sale of the
Band’s tapes and CD, are vital to the future of the Band which, for 29 years,
has survived on voluntary contributions. Every contribution is now even more
welcome in view of the increased costs being faced by Junior Band due to the
Council’s closure of their home of 17 years. Rent-free, Youth House provided
an excellent rehearsal room and storage facilities. The loss of this means a
huge additional financial outlay to Junior Band on top of the costs of tuition,
Musical Director and conductor’s fees, insurance, upkeep and replacement of
instruments, uniforms and buying music.
Grateful
thanks, from all who had such an enjoyable time, to Brian Robinson who started
the whole thing going and continues to be an inspiration, and to Secretary Di
Smith, who works tirelessly to keep the whole thing together. Finally, “thank
you” to all those “back room” people carrying, packing, setting-up,
taking-down, planning, organising and just being there when needed.