There's a particular quality to the light along the Costa Blanca in late August. It softens a little earlier in the evening, and the cicadas seem to know something we don't quite want to admit yet: summer is winding down.
I always find this a strange and lovely time of year. The concerts are done, the rehearsal rooms have gone quiet for a few weeks, and there's finally a moment to sit back and think about what we've just been part of.
What a Summer It Was
This year gave us three wonderful concerts, each with its own character and its own audience packed into the room.
TheatreSong brought their usual mix of warmth and theatrical flair, reminding everyone why musical theatre works so well when it's performed by people who genuinely love the stories they're telling. Watching a room full of people lean forward during a big number never gets old.
Cantãmus filled Ermita San Josep with the kind of four-part harmony that makes the hairs on your arms stand up. There's something about that space in La Fustera that suits choral singing perfectly. The acoustics are perfect, and the singers do the rest.
And Canto Mundial once again showed what happens when you bring different languages and cultures together under one melody. Their concert was a beautiful reminder that music doesn't need translation to move people. You could feel the audience following along even when the words weren't in their own language.
All three concerts drew audiences from across the Costa Blanca, and I couldn't be prouder of every singer who stepped up and gave their all. These concerts don't happen by accident. They're the result of months of patient rehearsals, and people showing up for each other week after week. Thank you to everyone who sang, and everyone who came to listen.
Looking Ahead to Autumn
Just as summer closes one chapter, autumn is already opening the next, and there's a lot to look forward to.
Canto Mundial will be back with Voices in Rhapsody, a concert that promises to be one of their most ambitious yet. If their previous shows are anything to go by, expect a programme that spans continents and languages, all woven together with the choir's signature warmth.
And as the year winds toward its close, Cantãmus will present Let There Be Christmas, their festive concert back at Ermita San Josep. There's something wonderful about hearing carols and seasonal songs in four-part harmony in that little chapel. It has become something of a tradition, and I know many of you mark your December around it.
Full details for both concerts, including dates, times, and ticket information, are on the website. I'll be sharing more as we get closer, but for now, save the dates in your diary and keep an eye out for the announcements.
A Season for Both
Summer teaches us to slow down and enjoy the moment. Autumn teaches us to prepare and look ahead. I love that this time of year asks us to do both at once, to sit with gratitude for what's just passed while getting excited about what's coming.
Rehearsals will start up again soon, new music will land on the stands, and before we know it we'll be back in front of an audience once more. Until then, I hope you all get a little more sunshine, a little more rest, and a lot of good memories from this summer to carry into the season ahead.
See you in the Green Room again soon.
