Today began a little later than usual to give the choir some time get a little more sleep and pack up to head to Rome. We drove straight to the Latter-day Saint Rome Temple—there was a collective “wow!” as it came into view from the highway. The temple, Visitors Center, Stake Center, and dormitory for visitors are beautiful in their own right—then you add in meticulously designed and maintained grounds and it is a stunning area.
After a box lunch, the choir wandered the buildings and area for a bit. Many photos were taken, and much appreciation was expressed for the beauty of this area. Photos don’t really do it justice, but here are a few.
Rehearsal in the Visitors Center followed the free time.
The evening’s concert was in the stake center on the Rome Temple Square, and it had the most wonderful acoustics ever heard in an LDS church! Absolutely perfect for the evening’s concert. The choir performed a variety of repertoire which the audience loved, including a just-learned “I Am a Child of God” in Italian to close the concert. It is truly gratifying to perform Vivaldi and Palestrina in Italy and have the audience greet them with enthusiasm!
After mingling with the audience members post-concert, the choir went back over to the Visitors Center with a few stops along the way to appreciate the lighted temple and grounds, to face a pizza dinner that could have fed twice as many people. Our reputation must have preceded us.
We have been treated so well by these lovely and loving people—some missionaries, young and senior; others members from the area. It has been such a treat to spend time in this sacred area.