Challenging

M le Maire stopped next to me as he arrived at the first show of the season. "The choir from Montlaur is singing a few songs with the group, so can you make sure you get some photos?" 

Well, I've seen some messy stage set-ups in my time, but this one takes the biscuit. See extra 1 for a wider view. The performers were Les Chanteurs du Mont Royal, a nine-member male choir singing traditional music from around the world, but with a particular bias towards the Pyrenees, especially the Béarn. Nine members, nine large music stands, nine microphones, and director Eric with his keyboard between them and the audience because he was conducting them as well. Masses of cables, bottles of water, instrument cases, and goodness knows what else littered the space. And of course silly gig lighting (red and green today). It had been a hot and steamy day again, but at precisely 9:30, when the show was due to start, a wind got up and became increasingly violent throughout the evening. Soon empty water bottles and bits of scores were flying around freely. How could I fail?

When the choir joined them they all squeezed in behind the music stands right at the back of the stage. Well, I did my best! The show was well attended and everyone enjoyed the many old favourites they played. I could have done with it being a bit shorter personally, but I was in a minority there. For encores they did Catalan anthem l'Estaca, and as is obligatory, the Occitan tune Se Canto. See extra 2 for audience participation.

I took 61 photos and saved nine of them.