Landed in Lyon
By Ishani Roy
The walking tour on the first day
After a long, strenuous journey, we were finally in France. Anticipation for the tour had been building over the past few weeks, from spending hours rehearsing at Union Presbyterian Church with Dr. Yun Song Tay to our Bon Voyage concert.
Lyon, the third-largest city in France, is shaped by the Rhône and Saône rivers. Our first morning there, we stepped off the buses to a gorgeous view of the bridges crossing the Rhône river. We then met our guides, who took us on a 2-hour walking tour of the city. They made us feel so welcome and I was impressed by their knowledge of Lyon. We learned about the history and local culture of the city. Our guide also showed us the traboules, winding alleys that pass through buildings and offer shortcuts between streets or access to hidden courtyards.
After the walking tour, my friends and I crossed the bridge in search of authentic French food and ice cream. Afterwards, we walked through the streets, taking in the city and exploring the local shops. In the evening, on our walk back to the hotel after dinner, we stopped to admire the sunset as we were crossing the Rhône river. After a long (and very hot) day, we returned to our hotel rooms and crashed, jetlagged from the journey and worn out from sightseeing.
Sightseeing after lunch
Sunset over the Rhône river after dinner
Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière
The next morning, we took our instruments and concert clothes with us when we boarded the buses to the city center for some more independent sightseeing. This time, we took the metro up to the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, which sits on a hill overlooking Lyon. After we got off the metro, we were met with breathtaking views of the city. The inside of the basilica was grand as well; it was lit by stained glass windows and featured large mosaics and gothic arches. Afterwards, we picked up a hasty lunch before meeting the rest of the orchestra to leave for the concert venue.
Le Scarabée
An hour and a half on the bus later, we were in Riorges, at Le Scarabée. It was a contemporary venue, with a large, open stage and colorful seats. After everything was unloaded and set up on the stage, it was finally time for rehearsal. However, we hadn’t rehearsed in nearly a week together. Between flights, sightseeing, and bus rides, there was almost no time to practice on our own, and large instruments were always being transported on a separate truck. I remember being worried that we had lost some of the progress we made during tour rehearsals.
Our first run-through of Chabrier’s España was far from perfect, but soon everything that we worked on during tour rehearsals came back to us. We also played Happy Birthday for Seth Ducey, GSYO's Executive Director. Unfortunately, we did have one minor problem: we were still jet lagged. This wasn’t a problem for the high-energy pieces, but the slow ones -- such as the second movement of Dvořák’s 9th Symphony -- had some of us fighting sleep the entire time. After the dress rehearsal, Dr. Tay instructed us to eat dinner and take a nap so we wouldn’t fall asleep during the concert.
Dress rehearsal
We returned backstage to a splendid buffet prepared by the venue. After a dinner of salad, pasta, quiche, and more, we lingered backstage, catching up on the events of the day and exchanging thoughts about today’s performance. Suddenly, Seth announced to everyone that we had sold 950 of the 1000 seats in the venue. Everyone was shocked. We hadn’t expected so many people in attendance at our concert, especially in a somewhat remote venue. The pressure to perform well intensified with the knowledge that the hall would be nearly full tonight. After changing into our concert dress and warming up backstage, we were finally ready to perform.
The audience at Le Scarabée
Walking onto the stage of Le Scarabée, we were nervous yet excited to finally perform in Europe. As we took our seats on the brightly-lit stage, we saw that Seth had been right: nearly every seat in the hall was taken. We opened with Emmanuel Chabrier’s España, a lively and joyous piece with sweeping melodies and rhythmic themes alike. Next, we moved on to Umoja: Anthem of Unity by Valerie Coleman, which begins with sustained ethereal passages and a simple melody before moving to a highly rhythmic and percussive section, concluding with a return to the original melody to underscore the theme of unity. Then came José Pablo Moncayo’s Huapango, reminiscent of Mexican folk dance and music. Finally, our most highly anticipated piece: Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, also known as the “New World” Symphony. An expansive work spanning four movements and forty minutes, it is one of the most well-known pieces in classical music. From the warm opening melody in the strings to the iconic introduction of the fourth movement, we were intensely focused on the music, playing each note with precision and musicality. And with our very last note, the audience stood, clapping in rhythmic unison (as is common in Europe) as we smiled at them, pleased with our performance.
Of course, we weren’t done yet. We poured our remaining energy into Bernstein’s Mambo. From the explosive brass to the energetic percussion, we were determined to make every second memorable. The audience especially loved the choreography, from the woodwinds popping up one by one to the collective shout of “MAMBO!” when we stood and raised our bows in the air during the piece. The audience stood once again, offering us seemingly endless applause. For the second time, we exploded into Mambo, encouraging the audience to clap along and shout “MAMBO!” with us this time. With the final note, bows raised in the air, the audience was on their feet for the third time, smiles on their faces as well as ours. It was truly a memorable concert, and I felt intense appreciation for the music, the orchestra and the staff, and the audience.
Later, as I collapsed on the bed in my hotel room, exhausted, I felt a sense of fulfillment and joy. From the friends I made to the people and culture of Lyon, I will always remember our time in the charming city. And with the conclusion of the tour, I am so grateful to have been given such an unforgettable opportunity. I have explored new countries, made memories, and gained a deeper appreciation for music, and I will look back on this trip years from now as one of the best experiences of my life.
About The Author
Ishani Roy is a rising senior at Mission San Jose High School. She has been playing the viola for six years, and this will be her fourth year with GSYO and her third year in Senior Symphony. Outside of orchestra, Ishani also enjoys playing the piano, swimming, and baking. She is looking forward to making more memories with the Senior Symphony next season as well!
