Kamerkoor NEXT: Brandon’s Voyage

On November 22, the Utrecht-based Kamerkoor NEXT celebrates its 10th anniversary with a remarkable world premiere: Brandon’s Voyage, a new chamber choir opera by composer Rens Tienstra, directed by Zephyr Brüggen. This musical odyssey is based on a Medieval Dutch poem about the Irish abbot Brendan, who embarks on a mythical sea voyage in search of his own truth. On November 22 Kamerkoor NEXT will take its audience along on this mystical journey of discovery full of song, movement, and sound.

The story of Brendan’s voyage, first described in a 12th-century Middle Dutch poem, fits seamlessly into our own time. Brendan reads stories in a book that he simply cannot believe, and because of his disbelief he is sent on a quest to discover the truth for himself. In Zephyr Brüggen’s direction, the focus lies on Brendan’s inner journey, drawing the audience into seven scenes in which the choir alternately takes on the role of narrator, giving sound to seascapes, and voicing the dialogue between monks.

Kamerkoor NEXT is known for its ambitious programming and high-level collaborations, including with the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra and various leading artists. With Brandon’s Voyage, the choir once again ventures off the beaten track: an opera with a starring role for the chamber choir, full of song, spatiality, and movement.