Netherlands Chamber Choir, Program I

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2021 at 8:00 PM (ET)

Netherlands Chamber Choir
Photo credit: Remco van der Kruis

VIRTUAL PROGRAM

Peter Dijkstra, Chief Conductor
with Concerto Köln

James Gilchrist, Evangelist, tenor
Louise Kemeny, soprano
Maarten Engeltjes, countertenor
Andreas Wolf, bass

With an artistic legacy spanning more than eight decades, the Netherlands Chamber Choir has won admiration for its superb interpretations of masterworks, but also for powerful, provocative original programs that defy the boundaries of traditional choral concerts. This season we encounter this exceptional choir, one of the world’s finest, in both contexts: here, a stunning, joyous performance of J.S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, and later in the year, a performance of Lasso’s Lagrime di Pietro in an arrestingly modern presentation with a solo dancer.

Founded in 1937 to perform Bach cantatas for the Dutch national radio network, the Kamerkoor has preserved a focus on the composer’s music in benchmark recordings and annual presentations of the Christmas Oratorio, partnering with ensembles of equal caliber. Clarity, pristine choral textures, gorgeous brass harmonies and impeccable instrumental playing from the German period orchestra Concerto Köln make this a memorable concert, recorded live at the elegant hall of Budapest’s Franz Liszt Academy.

This program has been supported by the Dutch Culture USA program of the Netherlands Consulate General in New York.