Stéphane Place, edited by Alexandre Dalifard / Photo credit: AMAURY CORNU / HANS LUCAS / HANS LUCAS VIA AFP 20:24 pm, September 08, 2023

In Bordeaux, the Opera choir celebrates with music the launch of the Rugby World Cup, which is being played in France. In order to greet the teams and supporters of this World Cup, the professional choristers will sing the anthems of the nations that will play the matches in Gironde.

In Bordeaux, the kick-off of the Rugby World Cup is celebrated with music. The initiative was taken by the Bordeaux Opera with a free show in the street this Friday. The professional choristers give voice to greet the teams and supporters of this World Cup. For the occasion, Europe 1 went on site to attend the event.

"It still takes to the guts"

"I will announce each country. We start with Ireland," says an organizer. On the steps of the Grand Théâtre in the center of Bordeaux, the Opera choir sings the anthems of the teams that will play one of the five matches scheduled in Gironde, starting with Ireland and Romania on Saturday. "We are 40, so there are 40 different voices. The goal is to create homogeneity and entity. Compared to rugby, it's a big scrum and we are all together," says Alexis Duffaure who leads the choir.

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For him, hymns are popular melodies. "An entire people is supposed to be able to hold back and sing. On the other hand, languages for us French are not always easy. Since there are phonemes that do not exist in the French language. Romania was not easy, and Wales was frankly difficult," he admits to Europe 1.

These interpretations enchant passers-by, French or foreign, who have arrived for this World Cup. "It still takes guts, I think. We feel that they are good singers and it's nice to have that on the street. We didn't know it, we passed by chance and we find it very good, "says a French supporter. On the side of foreigners, the initiative is very appreciated. "I think it's really good. We were very pleased with the welcome. I think everyone has been fantastic," said the foreign supporter. The powerful chants were greeted by the applause of the absolutely conquered audience.