Nativity Play

‘Christmas concerts are rarely more heart-warming than this’ wrote NRC in a 5-star review of the very first Nativity Play. It has since become a tradition in the Muziekgebouw, this family performance by all 350 students of the classical voice training school Nieuw Vocaal Amsterdam. The children and youngsters perform with Holland Baroque and conductor Leonard Evers. A storyteller plays the role of Mary who, in her old age, looks back on these important days in her life.

At the musical heart of Nativity Play are baroque pioneer Ton Koopman’s beautiful arrangements of carols such as Nu syt wellecome and Wij komen van Oosten. The Netherlands and other north-western European countries have a very distinct repertoire of Christmas and Advent songs, some of which date back to the Middle Ages. Although banned during the Reformation, they survived the historical storms thanks to their artistic power and strong melodies. They can now be heard in this delightful theatrical concert, based on a concept by Caro Kindt.