"They can dream their notes and you can hear it." This spring, singers from the Nationale Koren were featured in four different versions of Bach's Matthew Passion. The National Children's Choir, National Boys' Choir and National Mixed Youth Choir worked with a variety of orchestras and conductors.
With Mäkelä in the Concertgebouw
The National Children's Choir sang two evenings at The Concertgebouw, along with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Netherlands Chamber Choir conducted by Klaus Mäkelä.
"Mäkelä's Matthäus is mild, without high contrasts and grand rhetorical gestures. Immediately in the opening chorus he and the Netherlands Chamber Choir and the National Children's Choir emphasize a homogeneous sound rather than the text."
(De Volkskrant, March 29, 2026)
"Nothing but good things about the Nederlands Kamerkoor and the Nationaal Kinderkoor. They can dream their notes and you can hear it."
(NRC, March 27, 2026)
Three evenings in The Goals
About thirty singers from the National Children and Boys Choir sang three evenings in a row in De Doelen, along with the Rotterdam Philharmonic and the Laurens Collegium conducted by Leonardo GarcÃa Alarcón.
The dress rehearsal was a special moment in that the children of the Training Choir were also present. Some of them then even sang along in their first concert.
Pygmalion
A smaller cast from the National Children's Choir and Boys' Choir participated in a sold-out and critically acclaimed performance by the French Baroque ensemble Pygmalion, conducted by Raphaël Pichon:
" The opening chorus (...) grew into the first highlight of the evening. (...) When the children of the National Children's Choir and Boys' Choir performed their chorale O Lamm Gottes deploy, they did so at hurricane force. What a brilliant and bold effect."
(Wed., April 1, 2026 - five stars)
First for National Mixed Youth Choir
In addition to the National Boys' Choir, the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra also invited the National Mixed Youth Choir to perform the choral parts for the first time this year. In doing so, the choir experienced a special first. The small solo roles were also performed by singers from the National Mixed Youth Choir.
The press was also enthusiastic:
"The sound (...) pure, milder and more transparent than when you hear a modern choir of adult pros. (...) The singers were not at all uninhibited: most of them did not need any sheet music, you could see their eyes light up at beautiful lines. They sing the notes and the tradition: these are seasoned passionistas."
(De Volkskrant, March 30, 2026)
They sing the notes AND the tradition: these are seasoned passionistas
- (The Volksrkant)
"Their eagerness to develop hefty expression produced a sound almost as overwhelming as from the Pygmalion chorus. (...)
Wonderfully powerful and radiant sopranos formed the dome of sound under which excellent altos (with a few countertenors), tenors and basses elaborated Bach's lines. Amazingly, the choristers sang almost all the parts by heart."
(Place de l'Opéra, April 2, 2026)
"The use of young voices gives this music a freshness, clarity and a color palette not found in mature choirs."
(OperaClick, March 28, 2026)
And about the singers of the National Boys Choir:
" The boys of the National Boys Choir sang their parts with white, almost innocent voices. Real lambs."
(Place de l'Opéra, April 2, 2026)
