International Song Festival „Echternach vous enchante“

The international song festival „Echternach vous enchante“ started on the highest of notes from the first day:

The kids commanded the tone with the first event during the course of the song festival on Thursday, Mai 7. 09: the Orchestre national de Lorraine, conducted by Vincent Barthe, construed a profound program together with four children’s choirs.
Pieces from Gabriel Fauré - Pavane und Requiem – framed the opening concert. In between, the orchestras and choirs presented their best with works from Ernest Chausson and Thierry Blondeau.
The altogether more than 150 children of Chœur d’enfants de la Monnaie de Bruxelles, the Limburger Domsingknaben, the Maîtrise de la Cathédrale de Metz and the Maîtrise Sainte-Sophie de Luxembourg vocally filled the Atrium with delightful moments of intimacy and clarity.

On the following Sunday, May 10th, the guests themselves were challenged. With the workshop “Pop for Ladies” interested amateur singers (ladies) practiced with professionals and presented their abilities in the evening in an entertaining concert. In front of about 120 eyes the ladies spread good cheer over the audience so that the day ended with fun for participants as well as guests.

The second week of “Echternach vous enchante” began on Monday with another workshop – the “Choral Singing Workshop”. This time not for ladies but made for children: organized by the Musik-Jugend Luxemburg and INECC the pre-school and elementary school kids practiced their singing abilities for five days.

On Friday, May 15th, the five guys of Rockapella saw to it that the Atrium was filled with an atmosphere of joy. The American A-capella band, world famous for their guild, rocked the large audience so much so, that the fantastic mood in the Trifolion threatened to bubble over. The audience thanked the vocal wonders with thunderous applause and a standing ovation.

In a no less qualitative way but belonging to a somewhat different type of music the choir “Chorgruppe Lohner” proved on Sunday, May 17th the last day of the festival, the power of choral song. The choirmaster Werner Lohner and his singers managed to bring the passion and sensitivity for musical orchestration across to the audience. The Atrium became a place of transcendence.

The 10 days of the international song festival “Echternach vous enchante” offered this year yet again any and all positive variations of moods to the audience. Be it on one hand having learned something new and improving it within a workshop or on the other hand having nearly jumped out of your seats for joy during concerts or introspectively relaxed in your place.
The festival offered fitting, wonderful entertainment and diversion from the stressful everyday routine to participants and guests alike in the Trifolion.