Tenebrae accompany celebrity wedding - 6.06.06

15 singers from Tenebrae’s ranks were invited to sing at the wedding of Jacques Villeneuve, 1997 Formula One World Champion, this weekend.

Following a small civil wedding ceremony in Switzerland last week, Jacques and his Parisienne bride Johanna exchanged vows in front of a host of family and friends in Paris on Saturday (3rd June).

A religious wedding ceremony at the Church of St. Francois-Xavier in Paris was attended by around 200 guests. Johanna arrived in a classic Rolls Royce Silver Shadow wearing a spectacular white wedding dress and carrying a posy of pink and white tinged roses. The choir, directed by Jacques’ friend Nigel Short, sang four pieces placed suitably throughout the Catholic ceremony. Afterwards, the bride and groom left the church to sounds of a triumphant organ voluntary and stepped out into the warm sunshine to be greeted by applause from the guests already assembled in front of the church.

Guests included Formula One drivers David Coulthard, Jean Alesi, Felipe Massa, Olivier Panis, Mika Salo, Jacques Lafitte, racing drivers Alex Zampedri & Eugenio Visco, and French Canadian pop-star ‘Garou’.

“The music from the choir was beautiful – it was very emotional” commented Joann Villeneuve, mother of the groom.

“The music was a fantastic gift from someone very close to us”, said Jacques. “The singing was beautiful and helped to make the ceremony very special”.

‘The Pits’, Tenebrae’s 6-part male voice a cappella spin-off group (see photo gallery), were also delighted to be asked to sing three close harmony numbers at the reception in the evening.

Tenebrae, Nigel Short and all the singers would like to wish Jacques and Johanna every happiness in their life together.