Bagnères-de-Bigorre. The Montagnard Singers in search of new voices

Created in 1832 by Alfred Roland, a senior Parisian official who fell under the spell of the spa town, and especially the voices of local singers, the choir of the Singers Montagnards is determined to continue its Odyssey.

But if the ambition is real, it is still necessary to maintain, better still, to increase the workforce. Against a hundred at its peak, the Orphéon has only twenty-five singers to this day. Hence this recruitment campaign that the group has just relaunched after a period of convalescence due to Covid.

“We did not have more departures with the Covid, on the other hand our activity was heavily impacted. In 2021, we only gave three concerts, against 30 to 40 per year in normal times”, summarizes Alain Marmorat, in charge of recruitment.

From the Paris Opera to the Montagnard Singers by Alfred Roland

“In recent years, we have had a few departures, compensated by a few arrivals, very good elements from elsewhere! Thanks to a first recruitment campaign. Today, we are lacking three or four new singers to easily ensure our concerts knowing that not all are present at each concert “, he explains, not without specifying that” we take charge of the vocal training “. An argument all the stronger as the training is provided by Alain Marmorat in person, former singer of the Paris Opera who chose the spa town to enjoy a well-deserved but no less active retirement. Like a certain Alfred Roland before him… A parallel, certainly partial, that the interested party hopes to honor by contributing to perpetuate the history of the choir.

“We must maintain the workforce but also pass on the repertoire,” he says. A rich repertoire of around 500 songs “but we only sing about thirty”, slips Alain Marmorat. A detail in the form of an argument that he hopes will be persuasive. “Anyone can sing, even those who have never dared. You just have to take the plunge. We teach them the technique and the repertoire,” he invites. And for those who still hesitate, it also highlights the state of mind of the group and the atmosphere of both rehearsals and concerts.

“We are a nice group and we have a great time. The rehearsals take place on Friday evening in our room at the old town hall of Bagnères-de-Bigorre”. It remains to overcome the health crisis …

“We spent two appalling years and even if we were able to give a few concerts in 2021, it was hard because we did not have enough rehearsals. But we have new projects for the future, and in particular this twinning with a Italian choir, “he says with a great optimism that is matched only by his passion for singing and now for the Pyrenees as well.

“I spent 25 years at the Paris Opera but I am happy to have found, in addition to singers, a real family”, confides the now adopted prisoner. For more information, you can contact him on 06 82 55 08 34.

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