La Touche

Since la Touche was established nearly eight years ago, a tradition is developing of using the Games/Music room as a venue for different kinds of concerts. This is in addition to the regular use by visitors on holiday at La Touche bringing their own music and playing on one of the two pianos – a baby grand and an electronic keyboard.

Singing Students and Their Teachers Give Concert in Courléon Church

The music tradition started with a group of singers from Essex who, three years running, ran a singing week at La Touche. The participants had lessons during the days, practising together in the evenings. They then put on a public concert in the local church in Courleon at the end of their week with drinks and nibbles provided by the commune.

Classical and Folk Concerts on Balmy Summer Evenings

During the summer of 2007 La Touche was host to two concerts both with an international flavour.

The first was given by two professional and recorded pianists, one German –Erdmute Eicker and the other French – Annie Giecquel. They played four handed works by Mozart, Schubert, Debussy and Fauré. After a rapturous reception by an audience made up of local French and English, and holiday makers, there were evening drinks in the courtyard provided by top local vigneron, Pierre Jacques Druet, Erdmute’s partner.

The second concert was given by local English folksinger Jeremy Taylor who sang in English, French and Afrikaans. His French offerings were some of the songs by the internationally renowned French singer/songwriter, Georges Brassens. Jeremy also sang his own songs (including the best seller, Ag Pleeze Deddy).. Jeremy was part of the successful South African group that brought Wait a Minim to London’s West End having also written five of its songs. He also toured with Spike Milligan with his successful two man show. Jeremy spent much of his career in South Africa until banned by the apartheid government.

Although both concerts were free, we passed round the hat at the second one and were able to send nearly 150 Euros to a charity in Canada helping children with music.

Filed under: events on March 3rd, 2008