Like a Prayer

The Netherlands Radio Choir (Groot Omroepkoor) with British chief conductor Benjamin Goodson makes its debut at the Muziekgebouw with a devout program featuring a cappella choral music by Poulenc, Mendelssohn, and Daniel-Lesur. Accordionist Vincent van Amsterdam is eager to showcase the versatility of his instruments, and Daan Manneke has arranged his adventurous Trois petites symphonies for him. During the magnificent Mass for double choir by the Swiss-Dutch composer Martin, Van Amsterdam performs Manneke's psalm preludes.

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.