Since 2015, the Kwintessens Chamber Choir has been performing the Kanon Pokajanen. At first, they were very curious to see how the Kanon would be received by our audience, since the piece consists of many repetitions and is written in a single key. Pärt warned them (“Es ist sehr anstrengend für das Publikum”) when they first collaborated with him in 2013. Wouldn’t this be asking too much of the audience?! But the first performance was a huge success. People were deeply moved, and as singers, they were able to experience the power hidden within this music. Since then, Kwintessens has been one of the few choirs in the Netherlands to perform the complete Kanon; 75 minutes of music that silences, moves, and uplifts… A new Easter tradition was born! We are proud that this performance can now be seen in Gouda for the first time. The beautiful ambiance of De Gouwekerk will certainly contribute to the special atmosphere of this masterpiece.
The staging of our *Kanon* production amplifies the power of the music. The choir stands in the center of the church, arranged in a circle with a ring of candles inside. As the concert progresses, the church grows darker while the candles burn brighter and brighter. The audience sits all around us. Let yourself be carried away on this musical journey inward!
Kwintessens Chamber Choir is a chamber choir based in The Hague, founded in 2005, consisting of 24 experienced singers under the direction of Raoul Boesten. The choir operates on a project basis and focuses primarily on choral music from the 20th and 21st centuries, often combined with older repertoire. Programs are carefully curated and performed as cohesive wholes, with close attention to intonation, text interpretation, and the acoustics of the venue.
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End: 9:30 p.m.