The Garrigues Among the Basques

The Les Garrigues Choir traveled to the Basque Country from April 23 to 27 to meet with the Kanta Barthes Choir from Tarnos. Of course, there was a joint concert—the highlight of the trip—which was a resounding success at the Notre-Dame-des-Forges Church. The Occitans and Basques joined voices to perform “Hegoak,” an iconic song of the region, and “Se Canta,” the well-known anthem. A reception organized by their friends in Tarnos brought the evening to a close in a warm atmosphere worthy of the festivals in Bayonne, the neighboring city. The sightseeing excursions followed one after another under a very changeable sky: a quick trip to Spain with a visit to San Sebastián and, of course, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, very close to Hendaye, where the choir members and chaperones were staying, as well as Bayonne and La Villa Arnaga, where Edmond Rostand once lived. Upcoming concerts by the Les Garrigues Choir: Sunday, May 18, at 6:00 p.m. at the temple in Gallargues-le-Montueux, and Saturday, May 24, at 8:30 p.m. at the church in Sussargues.