SWEDEN TOUR 2024

After a busy Trinity Term, in June 2024 the Choir travelled to Sweden for its annual summer tour, to undertake a busy five-day schedule of concerts in iconic venues across some of the country’s major cities; Stockholm, Uppsala, and Gothenburg. Read our latest tour blog below to find out more about what the Choir got up to!

Days 1 & 2 – Stockholm

Arriving in an extremely sunny Stockholm on the afternoon of 26 June, the Choir performed evening concerts to huge audiences in the majestic Gustaf Vasa and Maria Magdalena Churches on the first two days of its tour. The choir performed programmes of British choral masterpieces through the ages, many of which were taken from this year’s Evensong repertoire, with programme highlights including Byrd’s Laudibus in sanctis, Britten’s Hymn to St. Cecilia and McDowall’s The Lord is good. Grateful for the glorious acoustic and splendid organs at both churches, the choir was also able to perform Jonathan Dove’s Seek him that maketh the seven stars for choir and organ, accompanied by senior organ scholar Luke Mitchell who also performed virtuosic solo works for organ during these concerts. The Choir enjoyed dinner together before the Gustaf Vasa concert, as well as a pizza picnic outside Maria Magdalena Church after another successful performance there.

Day 3 – Uppsala

The third day of the tour (Friday 28 June) took the Choir on a day trip to the city of Uppsala, about an hour north of Stockholm. Arriving early enough for a quick whistle-stop tour of the city and spot of lunch, the Choir then performed an afternoon concert to another large audience in the beautiful Cathedral, once again with an impressive acoustic and organ. A fleeting visit, the Choir hurried back to Uppsala station immediately after this concert (and through a rather unexpected rainstorm!), for a long train journey to Gothenburg before the final leg of the tour.

 
Days 4 & 5 – Gothenburg

The final two days of this tour in Gothenburg were certainly the busiest, though undoubtedly the most rewarding for the Choir. A lunchtime recital was given to the packed Gothenburg Cathedral on Saturday 29 June, followed by an afternoon at leisure, which for some choir members included exploring the city, going shopping, and even finding a nearby swimming pool, before dining together a final time in a local pizza restaurant.

Click here for a snippet of the Choir’s performance at Gothenburg Cathedral, featuring James MacMillan’s ‘The Gallant Weaver’, an audience favourite this year.

With the final day of tour being a Sunday, the Choir returned to Gothenburg Cathedral to sing for a service of Swedish High Mass, which was warmly received by a larger local congregation than usual, owing to the Choir’s visit. After this, and with the return to the UK drawing ever-closer, the Choir fittingly performed its last concert in the city’s English Church, St Andrew’s, whose full-capacity audience was extremely grateful for the performance. But, without much time to say goodbye, the Choir hurried off to the airport shortly after this concert, ready to return home for some well-deserved R&R to begin the long vacation.

After a hugely successful tour, marking the end of an equally successful year of music-making, the Choir hopes to visit Sweden again, after immediate invitations back from the majority of our hosts.

The Choir looks forward to more exciting events and engagements in the near future, which you can hear more about on our social media pages below. We are ever-grateful for your continued support to the Choir, and hope to see you again at future performances!