My flat is located next to the Music Academy so I often hear tunes wafting from the windows. As I walk by it most days I also read the posters that announce upcoming shows. One that caught my eye in March was for the “Chamber Singers” of Valdosta State University (VSU), Valdosta, Georgia, U.S.A. It was to be at the academy’s hall on Podwale Street.
So, on the evening of March 17th, I wore my green (it was St. Patrick’s Day) and traipsed over to the hall. The hall, more like a ballroom than an auditorium, looked to be in a former palace. Picture inlaid wood floors w/ rosettes, a stage for the orchestra, or in this case the singers, and a second story promenade for viewing the activity below. The hall was filled w/ wooden chairs so I took my seat in the middle. While sitting there I observed what looked to be the person in charge, possibly the choir director. (In actuality, she was a professor married to the director.) Also visible was an older distinguished Pole who did not seem to speak much English.
The Chamber Singers is made up of 26 students over the four vocal ranges. Every other year the singers travel across a different country singing in about 10 cities. They have been to the Netherlands, Hungary, Italy and the Czech Republic. This night in Krakow was their last in Poland.
The performance was fabulous, one of the top cultural events I had attended in Krakow. Their first two pieces were the Polish and U.S.A. national anthems. (The Poles have a good one.) After the obligatory exchange of gifts, (the school gave a State of Georgia flag) they assembled along the 4 sides of the seats. (If it can be encircling can it be ensquaring?) All of their pieces are sung a cappella and this first one was for a High Mass. It was truly uplifting to hear these young voices singing from the 4 sides of the hall. It was like quadraphonic stereo. (Anyone else remember that?) They then assembled on the stage where they sang the remaining 9 songs. Most were for the High Mass but they did have two “Negro Folk Songs” and one Brazilian tune complete w/ native percussion instruments and lots of strolling by the singers. (Think college jazz band.)
After the show I went over to the wife of the director and introduced myself. Her first comment was that I did not sound like I was from around here. I learned that her name was Susan Johnson formerly Susan Barker. She was a professor of business psychology, and get this, had dated Tommy West during high school and college. (Red Elephants #12 GHS class of 1974. For those non-Memphians, Tommy is the head football coach of the University of Memphis.) After a bit of talking she invited me to join her and the other 7 chaperons for dinner. Since this was truly my plan, I made the obligatory declines but agreed to go. She mentioned wanting to go to Trattoria Soprano, my favorite Italian restaurant, so off we walked. Included in this group of 8 were Susan, her husband David, Maciej Negrey, professor at the Akademia Muzyczna in Krakow, his protégé a woman now teaching at VSU, Dr. Robert Bauer, professor and department head at VSU who happened to be teaching in the Czech Republic, two of his fellow professors there and Susan’s best fried a Brazilian-born dentist living in Valdosta. (I hope I didn’t miss anyone.) Since we were such a large group, we could not get into Trattoria so we wound up at another Italian restaurant, Pavda. The restaurant looked like they were closing for the evening but happily agreed to take us in. (In fact, the busboy punched back in and the chef put his apron back on.) So in effect, we had the place to ourselves. The evening proved to be enchanting as I learned about the Czech Republic, tried a Polish specialty called wild mushroom soup, and enjoyed some fine company. It was truly special to be among such people, professors mostly, but Poles, Czechs and Americans all breaking bread together and having fun.
At about 11 p.m. we exchanged business cards and parted ways. They were off to do more and I did not want to wear out my welcome. All in all a very enjoyable evening w/ a link to back home.
Wow, Krakow is a small town.
