CHELSEA PENSIONERS STAND UP FOR MAASTRICHT
[EDIT: London, March 8] The visit had started at the station in Maastricht, where the same anthem had been sung at 7.30 in the morning. Later, at 12.30 local time, after the trip by Eurostar, the anthem was again sung in the great hall of St. Pancras station in London. Yet again, in the great hall of the Chelsea hospital, it was sung for the Chelsea Pensioners. Curiously enough, at the reception which followed, they even went so far as to serve bitterballen – a Dutch ‘delicacy’. At a time when everybody is concerned with questions of image, the Mastreechter Staar could teach them all a lesson, because it managed on one weekend trip to London to associate itself both visually and dynamically with a whole range of world brands. The Chelsea Pensioners, those veterans of foreign wars with their scarlet coats, are present at every major martial ceremony in this one-time capital of empire. However, the men from Maastricht went further and the next day they arrived at Kensington Palace, yet another brand, where the sun shone and a pink rose peeped from a nearby hedge. Surrounding the statue of King William III, England’s first Dutch monarch, the choir launched once more into the anthem of Maastricht. Of course, as you will read, they sang other songs too, but the combination of the Maastricht anthem with a range of world brands in such a short space of time is surely worth remarking. Actually, in London, it is difficult to turn round without touching a brand of seeing it reflected, even in the names of streets. Sloane Square, an eponymous name, if ever there was one, and Shaftsbury Avenue were just round the corner from Cadogan Hall where the choir gave their last resounding performance. Incidentally, Pink the shirt-maker was there too. The final concert program at the hall ranged from Verdi to Gershwin and with Paul Voncken wielding the baton, it featured some distinguished soloists including Ber Schellings whose echoing bass in Russian thrilled the audience with the story of the twelve robbers. Then came the ‘Belle of the Ball’, Melinda Hughes, in a ravishing pink dress with a black top who sang the duet ‘Tutte le Feste al Tempio’ from Verdi’s Rigoletto with Ber. Melinda, now based in London, had spent eight years in Maastricht, graduating from the Conservatory and from the Royal College of Music in London. Other soloists included the pianist Michiel Ballhaus, a young giant of a man who has been first pianist and coach to the choir since 2004. He is also first pianist of the New Symphony Orchestra but was not above carrying a keyboard around for some informal musical reflections. Interestingly, the Chelsea Pensioners were headline news by the end of the week when ladies were admitted to the order. It must have been that old Maastricht magic weaving its spell. Mayor Leers clearly had a wand tucked up his sleeve. SW
In their great hall, the walls of which are covered with oak panels listing battle honors going back for centuries, the Chelsea Pensioners, resplendent in their red dress uniform, stood up for the Maastricht Anthem. This was the start of an official visit to London by the world famous male voice choir, the Royal Mastreechter Staar.
http://www.mastreechterstaar.nl/