Cambridge Society of Luxembourg

Posts in the “exPOST” category refer to past events. They are meant as a reflection of the Society’s activities and undertakings.

About twenty people journeyed to the lovely house of Anna and Chris Vaudrey in Useldange on Sunday, 6 July for the annual Varsity Croquet tournament. The weather forecast was rather unpromising, and indeed the first drops of rain fell as the first glasses of Pimms were being imbibed.  The heavens opened for a while, forcing participants to retire to the large covered terrace, where the barbecue was getting going. The gas-fired barbecue pan provided courtesy of the Church Fête was soon supplying the hungry would-be croquet players with delicious pork kebabs, marinaded chicken fillets, pork slices and various sausages, accompanied by salads and a range of beverages, followed by a selection of tarts and fruit.

Duly fortified, the players noticed that the rain had ceased and the sun had come out, so teams were picked, descended to the expansive lawn and the serious matter of croquet was engaged. Croquet can be a wickedly aggressive game, but our Croquet Master, John Davis, who had been kind enough to supply us with splendid professional croquet equipment, advised a more gentlemanly version as befitting the occasion. The matches were nonetheless keenly fought. I am not sure that the actual scores have been recorded for posterity, but the overall result was that honours were even between Oxford and Cambridge.

Everyone had a splendid time, and it just remains to thank Anna and Chris for their outstanding hospitality, John for the supply of the equipment, the Church Fête for the loan of the barbecue pan and all the participants for making the event so enjoyable.

Posts in the “exPOST” category refer to past events. They are meant as a reflection of the Society’s activities and undertakings.

On Sunday, 29 June, 2014 the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge (Director Graham Ross) and the European Union Baroque Orchestra, conducted by Lars Ulrik Mortensen, with Alex Potter, countertenor, gave an outstanding concert of music composed by Händel, Muffat, Howells and Croft in the Basilica at Echternach. The concert was entitled a Concert For Peace as it was held on the 100th anniversary of the assassination of Grand-Duke Franz Ferdinand and his wife in Sarajevo, which led directly to the start of the First World War.
Three works by Händel were performed: the Te Deum for the Peace of Utrecht (HWV 278), the Utrecht Jubilate, (HWV 279) and the Ode of Queen Anne “Eternal Source of Light Divine”. The Choir sang Herbert Howells’ beautiful and moving motet “Take him Earth for cherishing” (in memoriam J.F. Kennedy), and two shorter works, Muffat’s Passacaglia (Armonico Tributo no. 5) and Croft’s The Soul of Music is the Soul of Peace, completed the programme.
The Choir showed why it is considered one of the finest choirs in England. The ensemble singing was delightful, and the soloists sang beautifully. The Choir was more than ably supported the the EU Baroque Orchestra, which is the Orchestra-in-Residence at Echternach. A cultural initiative of the European Union, it brings together outstanding young musicians from all over Europe, and there was some splendid playing on baroque instruments.
The concert was re-broadcast on Icelandic Radio and can be heard here until 23 October 2014 .