The birth of 'Choeurs de lumiere' [part one] - 20.08.07

Four years ago high in the Swiss Alpes, an unlikely meeting took place between the ‘Guet’ of Lausanne Cathedral and a swiss business woman. It was to lead to a lasting friendship and the birth of the ‘Choeurs de lumiere’.

Renato Hausler, the ‘Guet’ in this story (the man who still, to this day, keeps watch from the tower of Lausanne Cathedral and ‘cries’ the time across the city each hour) who also happens to run a Children’s charity ‘ARES’ in Switzerland, was at a meeting regarding his charity’s involvement in an annual Swiss 24-hour ski race. His charity had been invited to be one of the beneficiaries that year.

The Swiss business woman of the story (we’ll call her ‘Barbara’) happened to be the head of the committee of this ski-marathon event which, at the time was already in its 7th year. They were talking charity, snow, adrenaline, harsh conditions…

After the event, as a thank you to Barbara and members of the committee, Renato proposed a trip to visit Lausanne Cathedral and, it was over a fondue (seated directly underneath the main bell in the tower of the Cathedral) that Renato confided his vision for a ‘very special charity concert’...

(to be continued)...