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Bach and Schönberg impressive
11.02.2009The Volkskrant rapidly reached the conclusion that Bach’s Motets had been given a glorious rendition by conductor Peter Dijkstra and the members of the Nederlands Kamerkoor. And that was indeed a hundred percent so. The CD recording of these motets had already received an exceptional number of commendations, including “probably the best performance there is.”
And now in a live performance the quality of the choir emerged yet again, even if Bach had to share the stage with Arnold Schönberg. “Schönberg takes on an extra edge alongside Bach,” read the Volkskrant’s headline. In addition the review concluded that a programme of Bach motets was the ideal setting in which to place music by Schönberg.
All the concerts during this brief tour with Peter Dijkstra were undoubtedly successful, and well or extremely well attended. Where possible Dijkstra addressed the audience, asking them to continue to lend their hearty support to this special ensemble in the future: “There is no better chamber choir: Holland should be proud of it!”
The struggle is, after all, not over yet. For the singers this means that the musical heights have to be scaled with even more dedication: “Dreimal tausend Jahre [by Schönberg] was sung with restraint and refinement. Name a choir which can do this more beautifully than the Nederlands Kamerkoor. The church listened with bated breath. In the fiendishly difficult Friede auf Erden [Schönberg] it was, as well as the many dynamic contrasts, above all the excellent timing in the melodic lines that made the performance such a memorable experience. A most impressive conclusion to an exceptionally fine concert,” wrote the Friesch Dagblad.
[LS]
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