Like a Prayer

The Netherlands Radio Choir (Groot Omroepkoor) with British chief conductor Benjamin Goodson makes its debut at the Muziekgebouw with a first-class programme of a capella choral music by Poulenc, Mendelssohn, Daniel-Lesur and Frank Martin. The Mass for double choir stands today as one of the most performed and best compositions by the Swiss-Dutch composer Martin, who died in Naarden 50 years ago. The beautiful Agnus Dei from that Mass sounds like a heartfelt cry for peace. 

With over sixty vocalists, the Netherlands Radio Choir is the only professionally operating choir of this size in the Netherlands. Since its establishment in 1945, the choir has been an integral part of Dutch musical life. It sings the choral parts in the major concert series of the Dutch Public Broadcasting Service (NPO), and its live concerts can be enjoyed almost weekly via the radio. The choir performed numerous premieres by the most important composers of our time, including Boulez, Ligeti and Messiaen. High time, therefore, for a debut in the series Choirs, brought by the number-one Dutch venue for contemporary music.