Ginny Jenkins talks to Box 424 about the involvement of herself and her husband Ross in their local community. She also tells us more about the restoration project they have started and how they are getting funding. If you would like to help with their project or provide a donation you can contact them via the e-mail addresses in this text or at the following address; Association Restauration St Corneille, Puycelsi 81140, Tarn, France.

Part of this process has led them to organise the second Puycelsi Messiah. We heartily recommend you get tickets and enjoy this spectacular event held in this beautiful bastide village. Here are some details.

SECOND PUYCELSI MESSIAH

At 6.00pm, Saturday 13th September, this year, the second scratch performance of Handel’s Messiah will take place in the church of St Corneille in Puycelsi. This performance will be sung by a group of English, French and other choristers who will have travelled from as far away as the Netherlands for the opportunity to sing Handel’s magnificent work in a small medieval church in the Tarn in SW France. The wonderful acoustics of this building make it a fantastic location for such a performance. Both the conductor, Mark Opstad and the organist Nicholas O’Neill are former Oxford organ scholars. Mark is becoming one of the leading choir directors in the South of France, conducting the Toulouse choir Musica Nova, as well as regularly taking part in the Toulouse Organ Festival. Nicholas, who is flying over especially for the event, is currently Organist to St George’s Cathedral, Southwark as well as conductor of the House of Commons Choir.
Soloists are members of the Toulouse Opera and Marc Pontus, one of France’s leading Counter tenors who singes regularly with William Christie’s ‘Les Arts Florissants’.

The proceeds of the first Messiah