By Dennis Nutter, OAMC member
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| Photo from Dennis Nutter |
Lunch was eaten and buses boarded as we left Stupini and headed for Sinaia, the home of the first king of Romania, King Carol I, who ruled from 1866-1914. We had 40 minutes to explore the royal estate before heading to the concert hall, Sala Teatrului, Casino Sinaia.
Turn out at this concert was not what was expected, but it provided a good warm-up and things to work on prior to the next concert. We did have a female soloist, which adds so much to Khutsho, a song of peace written and conducted by our South African director, Mokale Koapeng.
Supper that night was a sack lunch, which was handed to us prior to leaving Stupini that morning. We arrived close to midnight with the instructions to turn in our keys, and take our luggage to the bus by 6:45 am for a 7:00 breakfast and 8:00 departure the next morning.
Click for more photos by Dennis Nutter.
Thursday, Sept 25 – The day started early with three per room and a
whole floor sharing four toilets, four showers, and eight sinks, preparing to
meet the deadlines for the departure, given the previous evening. Today was to
be our longest travel day of the tour, with over five hours of drive time.
After the first two hours of travel, we stopped at the historic town of Sighisoura for two-and-half hours for sightseeing. The highlight of that stop, for those fortunate enough to be at the right place at the right time, was to sing Steal Away and Soldiers of the Captain under the leadership of Mokale, in the chancel of the church on top of the Citadel. This church dates back to 1345, older than most of us in the group!
After sightseeing, the group could be found eating their sack lunches by the side of the bus. Once we were back on the bus, the drivers pointed the buses towards Cluj.
After “roughing it” the first three nights in Stupini, we were spoiled by the luxury of the Grand Hotel Napoca. We arrived later than we’d anticipated, so had to change immediately into our concert attire and rush over to Ordea, Filamonica de Stat. Though not a packed house, there was a nice crowd. We had a harpist for the first time and our singing certainly improved from the night before. This concert hall had much better acoustics and the singers a much better bead on the director, which certainly contributed to a much-improved performance.
Do you remember what this writer posted regarding the inspiration of the wind storm on Monday night? Well I saw it at work this evening at the concert in Cluj-Napoca Sala Auditorium Maximum!
Four Hymns of the Second Coming always seems to inspire the audience as it does the chorus when used as the finale to the concert and as I looked over the audience, this evening was no exception.
On this tour, we have been singing it as the next to the last number, providing all the inspiration that it usually does. After the recognition of the artists, and three conductors, and the applause finally dies down, we conclude the program with a musical farewell – “Go My Children, with My Blessing,” a very personal message from the Lord Jesus to his followers. We typically sing that song after encircling the audience on all four sides.
On this particular evening I was standing just below the conductor facing the audience. I saw many very appreciative faces, but as I looked just to my left, I saw a middle aged gentleman deeply moved by the Spirit, soaking in the beauty of the moment and the message, with tears running down his cheeks. With that picture deeply etched in my mind, I found that I was struggling to make it through the last two verses of the song, as I sensed moisture beginning to run down my cheeks as well. Something prompted me to step out at the end of the song and give him a big hug. Truly a special moment for me, and one that made it worth the whole trip right there!
That evening replays itself every time we sing the song now, and will remain one of the highlights of our trip.
After the first two hours of travel, we stopped at the historic town of Sighisoura for two-and-half hours for sightseeing. The highlight of that stop, for those fortunate enough to be at the right place at the right time, was to sing Steal Away and Soldiers of the Captain under the leadership of Mokale, in the chancel of the church on top of the Citadel. This church dates back to 1345, older than most of us in the group!
After sightseeing, the group could be found eating their sack lunches by the side of the bus. Once we were back on the bus, the drivers pointed the buses towards Cluj.
After “roughing it” the first three nights in Stupini, we were spoiled by the luxury of the Grand Hotel Napoca. We arrived later than we’d anticipated, so had to change immediately into our concert attire and rush over to Ordea, Filamonica de Stat. Though not a packed house, there was a nice crowd. We had a harpist for the first time and our singing certainly improved from the night before. This concert hall had much better acoustics and the singers a much better bead on the director, which certainly contributed to a much-improved performance.
Do you remember what this writer posted regarding the inspiration of the wind storm on Monday night? Well I saw it at work this evening at the concert in Cluj-Napoca Sala Auditorium Maximum!
Four Hymns of the Second Coming always seems to inspire the audience as it does the chorus when used as the finale to the concert and as I looked over the audience, this evening was no exception.
On this tour, we have been singing it as the next to the last number, providing all the inspiration that it usually does. After the recognition of the artists, and three conductors, and the applause finally dies down, we conclude the program with a musical farewell – “Go My Children, with My Blessing,” a very personal message from the Lord Jesus to his followers. We typically sing that song after encircling the audience on all four sides.
On this particular evening I was standing just below the conductor facing the audience. I saw many very appreciative faces, but as I looked just to my left, I saw a middle aged gentleman deeply moved by the Spirit, soaking in the beauty of the moment and the message, with tears running down his cheeks. With that picture deeply etched in my mind, I found that I was struggling to make it through the last two verses of the song, as I sensed moisture beginning to run down my cheeks as well. Something prompted me to step out at the end of the song and give him a big hug. Truly a special moment for me, and one that made it worth the whole trip right there!
That evening replays itself every time we sing the song now, and will remain one of the highlights of our trip.
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