Music
Magdalene College Choir Tour to Hungary
The College Choir has recently completed a successful multi-city tour of Hungary, performing in Budapest, Pécs, and Szeged.
Events included Choral Evensong at St Margaret’s, the Anglican Church of Budapest; Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Pécs; a concert in the Pécs Cathedral Lapidarium; and a concert in the Votive Church of Szeged. In between, choir members enjoyed the opportunity to explore the cultural sights of these cities, as well as tours of the city of Pécs and the Anatomy Department of the University, and attending a talk given there by Magdalene Fellow, Professor Cecilia Brassett (2009).
The trip was the result of a number of collaborations and invitations: from Fr Adam Bak, minister of St Margaret’s Church, Budapest, and formerly Ordinand on placement at Magdalene; and from Dr András Nagy, Professor of Anatomy at the University of Pécs, and a colleague of our own Professor Cecilia Brassett, Fellow, who is also Guest Professor at the University of Pécs. The Choir is also grateful to Fr Támas Forrai of the Jesuit community in Pécs, and Bishop László Kiss-Rigó, Bishop of Szeged, and his team, for their help in that city.
The Choir is grateful for the support of Mr Philip Carne MBE (1958), Pepys Benefactor Fellow, and others for helping make the tour possible.
Mr James Potter (2022), Precentor and Director of Music, said: “Touring to places like this and giving concerts in wonderful venues is a great privilege. The benefits to the students in the Choir are cultural, musical, and social, taking us all out of our comfort zones and into an exciting space of encounter and shared experience. On this trip we were able to make fascinating connections across three very different cities in Hungary, and at an interesting time for the country as it decides its future.”
Check out the vlog the choir made during their trip below.