Silvia Manzoni, director of the Fioccorosso Choir of Monza and of the Laudamus Dominum Choir of Sovico, answers five questions on the impact of the coronavirus in the world of choir.

FIRST OF ALL, WITH REGARD TO THE RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE PANDEMIC, WHAT IS YOUR STATE OF MIND?

Faced with this situation, my state of mind constantly fluctuates between two feelings: concern on the one hand, trust on the other. In fact, although I understand the seriousness of the moment we are living, I am convinced that the time of choirs will soon return.

REGARDING THE ACTIVITY OF YOUR CHOIR, ARE YOU IN ANY WAY CONTINUING TO PERFORM REGULAR TESTS?

In September we resumed the choral activities, scrupulously putting in place all the safety protocols. However, according to the new indications, on October 24th we had to suspend rehearsals and cancel the two Christmas concerts already scheduled. At this moment we are waiting to understand what we can do and, above all, when.

IN THIS PERIOD, MANY PLATFORMS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED TO CONTINUE MUSICAL ACTIVITIES ONLINE: DO YOU THINK THAT THE INTERNET CAN REPLACE LIVE CHOIR ACTIVITY?

Although I recognize that, in this particular period, technology is a useful support for daily choral practice, I absolutely do not believe that the internet and new online platforms will be possible substitutes for live choral activity in the future.

Honestly, I'm not going to rehearse via Zoom or other platforms because I don't think it's an effective way to carry out regular choral activity. Rather, I prefer to send new pieces to study, taking care to record the individual parts in mp3, thus empowering each chorister to engage in a more personal study.

CHRISTMAS IS APPROACHING, A PERIOD IN WHICH CHORAL CONCERTS ARE VERY FREQUENT; DO YOU THINK THAT THIS YEAR WILL IT BE POSSIBLE FOR THE CHOIRS TO PERFORM IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE?

I fear that no Christmas concert will be possible, especially in our area (hinterland of Milan and the province of Monza and Brianza). I think it will be a somewhat anomalous Christmas and, unfortunately, also a little sad ...

WE CONCLUDE WITH A HINT OF NOSTALGIA; WHAT MEMORY DO YOU HAVE OF YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE ALTA PUSTERIA FESTIVAL?

The Alta Pusteria Festival is an exceptional moment of aggregation and choral exchange. We are confronted with different realities, different cultures, different approaches. We all have wonderful memories of the Festival, of the Val Pusteria, of the choirs.

Last June we should have participated but… alas! Better times will come back, we hope so.