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Donostia, San Sebastian.  The Ibaeta Abesbatza choir will leave tomorrow for Paris where they will be until Monday October 28^th.  During their stay the Basque group will not only strengthen ties with other local choirs, the Gernika Abesbatza and Anaiki Gizon Abesbatza, but will also give two concerts in the capital.

The first performance for the Ibaeta Abesbatza will take place on Saturday at the Saint-Louis-en L'Île church, near Notre Dame at 4pm.  The choir will perform sixteen songs, some of them religious like Irten Ezazu, by Count de Peñaflorida, Agur María, by Uruñuela, Aita Gurea, by Fr. Madina, Goizeko Izarra, by Santesteban; among others by Aita Donosti, Raimundo Sarriegui, and contemporary singers like Xabier Lete, Mikel Laboa and Benito Lertxundi.

With composer Felix Ibarrondo

The second performance will take place on Sunday at the Notre Dame du Perpetuel Secours en Asnieres sure Seine parish where they will sing the mass at 10:30 officiated by the prestigious composer from Oñati, Felix Ibarrondo.  Following mass, the choir will give a concert in the same church.

“We are so proud to be able to sing in the presence of such a famous musician, while recognizing the challenge that this implies for an amateur choir like ours,” says Donato Unanue, choir director.

Meal at Eskual Etxea

Sunday will conclude with a visit to the local Paris Eskual Etxea, where the choir will share a meal with members of the Gernika Abesbatza as well as Anaiki Gizon Abesbatza.  The get together will include performances, before and after dinner, by the choirs; it will be a day of celebration of Basque music, without a doubt, of love of song, and passions shared by members of all three choirs.