The Singers had a sleep-in before departing at 10am for Italian Switzerland. During our 3.5-hour bus ride, we stopped for a quick lunch at a gas station before finishing the journey. Most Singers decided to take a nap during this time, because the previous night we didn’t get back to our hotel until 1:30am!
Upon our arrival at Chiesa della Trasfigurazione (a Catholic church in Lugano, Switzerland), we rehearsed with the wonderful church choir conducted by Ivo Antognini’s wife. We were informed that the church singers have been rehearsing for months to memorize these pieces— it was such a joy to meet them, and we could tell they were so excited to collaborate with us. After rehearsal, the church members graciously prepared refreshments for us to eat before getting ready for the concert.
During the concert, we first performed a collaborative set with the church choir, including two pieces by Ivo Antonini: O Mangum Mysterium and O fili et filiae. We also performed Ubi Caritas. Then BYU Singers performed by themselves. Once again, the audience was gracious, and we were able to interact with them outside the church at the conclusion of the concert.
We then joined members of the congregation for a delicious homecooked meal of risotto, chicken and vegetables, and chocolate cake. Many of our Singers speak a mixture of French, German, and Italian, so we were able to chat with the members using a combination of those languages.
After our meal, we headed to our hotel in Lugano for some much-needed rest.