First alumni tour to Pontigny

The weekend 12-13 September saw the first inaugural weekend of alumni events in Pontigny, France, and the nearby region, coinciding with the annual choir tour to Pontigny Abbey. 33 alumni, the Principal, and members of the Development Office enjoyed an itinerary of events exploring the local region’s cuisine and culture.

On Saturday, the weekend commenced with a three-course lunch at Les Granges restaurant in the medieval town of Noyers. The group of Aularians, matric years ranging from 1961 to 2022, got to know each other with a drinks reception and introductions were made, before taking their seats. After enjoying their lunch of burrata, boeuf bourguignon, and fondant au chocolat with crème anglaise, the group were greeted by their enigmatic tour guide, Didier, for a walking tour of the town. The alumni took in the history and beautifully preserved winding streets of Noyers.

The first day culminated in a fantastic concert from the College Choir in Église Notre-Dame de Noyers. The programme, themed around the interactions between English and French choral traditional and cultural exchange, featured a selection of music ranging from the 15th century to present, including works by French composers such as Fauré, Du Fay, Josquin, Messiaen and Duruflé, and English composers such as Bairstow, Howells, Parry, Rodney Bennett, and contemporary composers Eleanor Daley and Janet Wheeler. The concert featured music which the Choir would regularly perform in weekly Sunday Choral Evensong or Compline in the Crypt on a Thursday, as well as new and ambitious repertoire for the concerts. The Association of ‘Renaissance de l’Orgue de l’Eglise de Notre-Dame de Noyers’ kindly hosted the alumni for a reception in the local town hall, bringing together the alumni, the Choir and the local community for drinks and nibbles.

On the Sunday, we made our way to the vineyards of the Céline & Frédéric Gueguen in Chabils. Surrounded by the beautiful vines at the viewpoint of Les Lys, our host Fanny talked us through the winemaking process, and answered the alumni’s questions with an impressive demonstration of her thorough knowledge of the wines and the vineyards. We enjoyed tasting a variety of wines from the region, including, of course, a few glasses of Chablis, accompanied by cheeses, terrines and Gougères, a local speciality pastry of the region. The group then boarded a coach to Pontigny Abbey, where they enjoyed an immersive audio tour of the Abbey and its grounds, learning about the history of the place. The alumni had the opportunity to visit the shrine and final resting place of St Edmund of Abingdon, situated above the high altar in Pontigny Abbey. He was buried there after dying in France in 1240, while travelling to Rome.

After their tour, the alumni joined the Choir to observe an open rehearsal to learn more about the behind-the-scenes process of the Choir’s preparation. A few musical alumni joined the Choir to sing a rendition of Fauré’s famous choral work, Cantique de Jean Racine, before engaging in a Q&A session with Director of Music Carlos Rodríguez Otero. The alumni enjoyed the Choir’s concert in Pontigny Abbey – the Choir have been coming to Pontigny to perform concerts in the Abbey for 15 years, keeping strong the special bond between the Abbey and the Hall.

After the concert, the alumni and Choir had the opportunity to mingle at a drinks reception in the fantastic café associated with the Abbey, La Maison du Jardinier, where the alumni then took their seats for the final dinner of the trip, a five-course meal showcasing local cuisine and wine. We enjoyed a post-dinner talk from Aularian Jean-Claude Muller (1975, Oriental Studies) on ‘Les Decades de Pontigny’, an early 20th century academic retreat that took place in the grounds of the Abbey, These intellectual gatherings held from 1910 to 1914, and then from 1922 until the beginning of the Second World War ( 1939 ). They were created and organized by the academic and journalist, Paul Desjardins.

The weekend was enjoyed by all as there was beautiful weather, excellent conversation, delicious food and music, strengthening both Aularian friendships and Teddy Hall’s connection with Pontigny.

We would like to thank all the alumni, volunteers and colleagues in Pontigny and Noyers who helped make this alumni visit happen and we hope to make this a regular opportunity for alumni to join the choir on their annual tour to this beautiful region of France.