Netherlands Kamerkoor: The Nederlands Kamerkoor has existed over 78 years now and continues a long commissioning tradition, both to young talents and established composers. Amongst the composers who wrote for the choir are Francis Poulenc, Frank Martin, Harrison Birtwhistle, Sofia Gubaidulina and John Tavener. Recent and future compositions include works by George Benjamin, Nico Muhly and Lera Auerbach. These compositions form a magnificent mosaic of masterpieces, each of which create a world of their own. Together, they tell the story of the Nederlands Kamerkoor. The support act will be provided by the Netherlands Student Chamber Choir.

Composing a World

Klaas Stok, connected to the Nederlands Kamerkoor for years as guest conductor en choir master, presents highlights of commissioned pieces during the choir’s concert Composing a World on April 28. This lecture will serve as an in-depth introduction to the concert, highlighting two pieces in specific: Escher’s Le vrai visage de la paix and Andriessen’s Tre Canzoni. Both written by Dutch composers for a Dutch choir in the mid 50s, they are a good example of the choir culture in The Netherlands in that period. Klaas Stok will talk about the pieces from both a historical and musical point of view, and explain his interpretation of these pieces.

Nederlands Studenten Kamerkoor: The NSK (1974) forms a choir every year out of the best amateur singers among students in the Netherlands. It offers a unique experience with modern-classical music on a high level in a short period of time and by bringing passionate people together.