Extraordinary! Crystal-clear sound! Strong yet angelic voices!
Such praises were heaped on the Virlanie Children’s Choir by thousands of Frenchmen and women who attended the choir’s recent concert tour of France.
The choir went to various French cities starting in Paris, then moving on to Lille and Douai in the north, to Normandy and the Brittany region in the west, including Rennes, Mont St. Michel and St. Malo, and ending in Nantes on the river Loire. They also performed at Ypres, in the southern part of Belgium.
The choir sang in cathedrals, small ancient churches, museum, schools and concert halls such as the 850-year-old Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, where the choir sang at an early-evening High Mass in the presence of French dignitaries; the famed Mont St. Michel Abbey, perched on a rocky islet and surrounded by the sea—another memorable venue.
The rector Père Riton, who is a friend of Virlanie Foundation president Dominique Lemay, was full of joy when the voices of the children filled the cavernous main altar.
The Quai Branley museum’s inauguration of the exhibit of Philippine primitive art and artifacts had the Virlanie choir wowing the guests, headed by French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay.
At the Church of the Miraculous Medal on Rue du Bac, the choir had one of its best musical moments because of the wonderful acoustics of the small church.
At the Matignon Palace, the Prime Minister’s wife Madame Brigitte Ayrault graciously gave a tour of the palace and garden, and tendered a delicious luncheon of French food fit for dignitaries.
Most applauded
Among the most applauded in the choir’s repertoire were spiritual songs (“The Lord’s Prayer” by Ryan Cayabyab and “Ave Maria” by Jacob Arcadelt); Cordillera folk song (“Orde-e” by Theresa Vizconde Roldan); Tagalog melody (“Sa Ugoy ng Duyan” by Lucio San Pedro); Broadway song (“Tomorrow” from the musical “Annie”); and French children’s song (“Prendre un Enfant par la Main,” arranged by Yves Duthiel).
Most of the choir members were former streetchildren roaming Manila and now living in homes under the care of Virlanie Foundation, which was established 20 years ago by Lemay. Their journey from the streets of Manila to the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Prime Minister’s Matignon Palace in Paris was an amazing feat, with a seemingly unseen hand orchestrating the whole event.
The children’s choir was formed in 2004 and had its debut performance at a gala dinner for Princess Caroline of Monaco when she visited Virlanie Foundation in Manila.
The accomplished directress since the choir’s inception is Malou Hermo, a former member of the Madrigal Singers and also the choirmaster of the Ateneo Glee Club.
‘Fairy godmother’
The choir’s French sojourn came about when Prime Minister Ayrault, accompanied by wife Brigitte, came to the Philippines last year on a state visit. Part of their itinerary was a tour of Virlanie Homes in Makati where they were regaled by the Virlanie choir.
Madame Brigitte was won over by the choir and right there and then invited the choir to sing in
France and be the choir’s “fairy godmother.”
That singular act of generosity was the trigger that brought together sponsors and benefactors such as Airbus and Philippine Airlines, with its president Ramon Ang footing the airfares, Dr. Stephen Zuellig sponsoring their tour bus, and Patricia Zobel taking care of the costumes and accessories.
The French connection included French host families and young French professionals who
were past volunteers in Virlanie Manila.
And all these people’s time, effort and money paid off with the choir’s resounding success throughout France.
I accompanied the children as an official of Virlanie’s Board of Trustees and as the choir’s medical doctor.
What amazed me during this tour were the children’s tenacity, courage and resiliency (aside from their vocal talents). I am sure their experience in France is going to be a turning point in their lives, and their tomorrows will be bright and beautiful.
