For many years, Singing for Pleasure has been associated with a French choir, "Arabesque" In fact this is our twentyfirst anniversary. Their visit to Welwyn Garden City in May 2008 is eagerly anticipated.

Reaching out in Friendship

Although one of our closest neighbours, relations between the French and British peoples, at a national level, has often been marked by disagreement and conflict. Because of this sad state of affairs the stunning achievements that follow on occasions when we do co-operate are often overlooked. Take, for instance Concord, the worlds first and only supersonic airliner to date, and the Channel Tunnel.

Many towns and cities in the U.K. have formally "twinned" with French towns in an effort to foster greater international understanding but here in Welwyn and Hatfield, for the past twenty years, there has existed a different, more vibrant and creative link in the form of a commitment between two Choirs, Singing for Pleasure and Arabesque, to sing and perform together. What makes this connection so special is that it arose not out of some corporate agenda but when two of our members fell in love and married.

The fundamentals of this very human relationship, the affection and mutual respect, are reflected in the way the two choirs interact with one another when we meet. Certainly there is some rivalry and competition which helps ensure that when we sing together we do so at our very best, producing impressive performances, but when we meet socially it is in friendship, for the love of making music. And this friendship reaches beyond the members of the choirs.

On a recent visit to the French Choir's home town of Gif, we were treated as honoured guests. We were welcomed by the Mayor and one of the Deputy Mayors, while another of the Deputy Mayors personally conducted us on a tour of his town, showing us, with obvious pride, how the development had been in sympathy with the existing countryside, and the efforts that had been made to preserve the woods and fields that are so much a feature of this part of France, which retains it's character, despite being well within the commuter belt around the capital, Paris.

In 2008 it was our turn to play hosts. For full details of the Arabesque visit follow the link below to our Scrap Book

Arabesque Visit 2008