The Netherlands Chamber Choir was founded by Felix de Nobel in 1937, and is a fully professional vocal ensemble consisting of 24 singers. Although it applies itself nowadays first of all to the repertory for either a cappella chorus or works with accompaniments by single instruments, it also collaborates regularly with renowned ensembles and orchestras such as the Schonberg Ensemble, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Frans Brüggen's Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century and Ton Koopmans' Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra.
The repertory of the Netherlands Chamber Choir spans almost the whole of Western music, ranging from the early Middle Ages to the late 20th century. Uwe Gronostay had been its artistic leader and chief conductor from 1987 to 1998.
The Netherlands Chamber Choir, blending individual voices in perfect harmony. A community of artists coming together in choral singing at the highest level. Based in the choral city of Utrecht, we push the boundaries of the genre with innovative, urgent projects.
We perform the most beautiful choral music, often addressing societal themes, and collaborate with artists from various disciplines such as actors, dancers, VJs, and poets. We also collaborate with individuals from the fields of healthcare, education, and science. This way, we enrich the perspective on society for both our audience and ourselves.
We are dedicated to fostering a thriving, vibrant choral world. This includes initiatives like NKK NXT, our training program for young professionals, and our Singing Days across the country, investing in the wonderful Dutch amateur choral community. With NKK NOW, we explore how choral singing can connect young people aged 9 to 18.
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy born and widely known as Felix Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic period.
Mendelssohn is often compared to Mozart. Both of them were child prodigies, both had a talented sister and they both died at a young age. Mendelssohn, who as a child also painted wrote poetry, was born in small family which converted to christianity from judaism. As a composer he preferred looking back, rather than forward: his main examples were Bach, Handel and Mozart. It was Mendelssohn who retrieved Bach from oblivion and pushed for a revival of his music, which still lasts today. One century after its premier, Mendelsson performed the St Matthew Passion for the second time ever, in 1829.
Three years, earlier, on his 17th, he had already composed his masterfully overture A midsummer night's dream op. 21, based on Shakespeare's play. Today, it is still considered as one of the absolute masterpieces in all of the orchestra reperoire. His Violin Concerto op. 64 belongs to the most beautiful works of the 19th century as well. During his travels through Europe, he wrote his brilliant Italian Symphony, Scottish Symphony and the overture The Hebrides.
Although Mendelssohn had a prosperous career, his weak physique made him emotionally vulnerable. The death of his favourite sister Fanny became fatal: Mendelssohn died in the same year, at the age of 38.
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