Auditorium San Francesco al Prato
Concerto Gospel
On Sunday 1 December 2024, after weeks of preparation we were finally there, in the breathtaking setting of the Auditorium San Francesco al Prato in the historic centre of Perugia … not to boast, but undoubtedly the most prestigious location for a concert in our wonderful city.
We don’t have time to catch our breath from the sight of this marvellous place, freshly restored, when Valentine directs us to the dressing rooms … like real artists … experienced.
Tension rises, but Rita Gasparrini the choir director immediately calls us on stage to fine-tune the last details and warm up our throats and minds.
A fantastic surprise is having an exceptional testimonial, Annalisa Baldi will sing with us; she likes our activities, our events, and wants to perform together with the Coro Cantori Umbri and us … we are really honoured and excited. Who could have imagined where we would come?
The stalls suddenly fill up, at the last moment before the concert so many people arrive; the auditorium staff even open the side seats to the stage, a sign that the central stalls are full. We can’t believe it, so many people to listen to our third Gospel performance.
We quickly return to the dressing rooms for a final recap and then it really begins. We re-enter the auditorium, the choir takes their places on stage for the first part without us, we sit on the first side row reserved for the artists and listen to Rita’s opening speech and our Valentine. We look around for the looks of all the other guys, releasing some of the tension, we push each other as the songs begin, knowing that we too will soon play our part … finally after so many rehearsals we are there … again we can show what we can do. We divided up the tasks and together with our volunteers some of us sing, some of us serve in the hall and at the entrance, some of us take photos and videos to post on social media, and some of us are in the audience cheering us on and motivating us. Everyone has their chosen role, we are all important.
The songs flow and we know that we will soon have to get busy, come to terms with our emotions and performance anxiety. Here is the moment, Rita calls La Brigata Indipendente, we climb the steps and finally see how many people have come to listen to us, from the stage it is a whole different thing … the legs are a little shaky and the voice trembles. A gangway in front of everyone, Valentina introduces us name by name, we greet and take our seats. The strength of the choir comes forward and the tension descends, union is strength and as we say MAKES THE DIFFERENCE, slowly we melt away, the applause helps, helps a lot. We know what to do and we follow Rita who punctuates and plays down every moment. After a while we get into time and everything works. Our friends from the Coro Cantori Umbri always put us at ease, they understand our emotion and stand by us, they make us feel accompanied and supported, and so everything works well.
The performance goes fast, occasionally interrupted by explanations and news for the audience, we are happy. Applause ensues and this is reassuring, even amusing. Soloists and choristers do what we must and finally finish. Annalisa Baldi’s presence adds value, her voice is unsurpassed, and the gags with Rita are amusing and reassuring. We finally have a great time and are proud of what we have done. La Brigata Indipendente is this, work and fun that give us satisfaction and make us realise that we can do and give so much, even things like this that many people wouldn’t even dare to do.
We finally reach the end of the concert, we are tired and now also sorry, beautiful things that end give you a little melancholy but that is how it should be and that is how it is.
The theatre slowly empties, many compliments from acquaintances and strangers alike, and this fills us with pride and confidence. We salute and thank you for your participation and look forward to the next event.
UNION MAKES THE DIFFERENCE … always!!!
Auditorium San Francesco al Prato
Mea Concerti
Annalisa Baldi