About Consensus Vocalis

Consensus Vocalis is firmly rooted in the Eastern part of the country, based in Enschede and the only professional vocal ensemble along the entire eastern border. The artistic direction of the choir is in the hands of conductor Imre Ploeg.

Together with the other professional (music) companies, the choir is of great importance to the cultural infrastructure (Nederlandse Reisopera, Phion, Theater Sonnevanck) in the eastern part of the country. It is also a valued partner of Stichting BachTwente, the Noord-Nederlands Orkest, Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest, Musica Amphion, Nederlands Blazers Ensemble, Metropole Orkest, Silbersee, Stift Festival, Internationale Koorbiënnale Haarlem, Muze van Zuid and ArtEZ Conservatorium Zwolle, among others.

In recent years the choir has worked with conductors such as Jules Buckley, Benjamin Goodson, Antony Hermus, Julia Jones, Antonello Manacorda, Benjamin Lévy, Daniel Reuss, Ilyich Rivas, Ed Spanjaard, Klaas Stok, Jan Willem de Vriend and Jaap van Zweden.

The choir has a broad repertoire, varying from Bach and Beethoven to contemporary composers such as Pärt, Vasks, Gustavs, Welmers, Bank, van Rossem, Jeths, Torstensson and Rijpstra. From a cappella, opera and chamber music to baroque, new compositions, music theatre, youth performances and the great symphonic works. (including War Requiem by Britten, Beethoven IX, Requiem Mozart).

Due to a careful selection of singers, Consensus Vocalis has a completely unique sound that is recognizable in everything: clear, expressive, intense and full of dedication. The ensemble guarantees great stylistic flexibility and a high quality choral sound, and manages to work with the best professional choral singers from home and abroad after strict selection.

Consensus Vocalis sang the premieres of Licht en Donker by Jan Welmers, Via Crucis by Andries van Rossem, Aube by Daan Manneke with organist Leo van Doeselaar, Requiem by Willem Jeths in an arrangement for cello octet, choir and percussion and two vocal soloists, and in 2019 recorded a CD with works by Peteris Vasks with Daniel Rowland and Maja Bogdanovic in the presence of the composer (release 2020). For the online edition Live from Haarlem of the International Choral Biennale Haarlem, Consensus Vocalis recorded works by the young composer Frieda Gustavs, Ēriks Ešenvalds, Hendrik Andriessen, Gustav Mahler and Charles Ives in 2021. These recordings were streamed via the successful video channel of the British ensemble Voces8. In the festival Muze van Zuid, Consensus Vocalis is Choir in Residence in September 2021.

The reviews about the choir are laudatory: ‘Amazingly beautiful’ (muziek-recensie.nl), ‘Outstanding in character and colour’ ( **** NRC), ‘Of exceptional level’ (Theaterkrant). “The chorus Consensus Vocalis sings Verdi’s delightful choral scenes freshly, sharply on the beat and eloquently.” ( **** La Traviata – NRC)

Auditions

Do you want to be part of Consensus Vocalis? Come and audition!

ANBI status

The Consensus Vocalis foundation has been designated by the tax authorities as a cultural public benefit institution

‘The enormous wealth and versatility of the repertoire and the level of the choir contribute to the great musical wealth of the province of Overijssel with a national emanation.’
Ed Spanjaard
Chief conductor Orkest van het Oosten
‘The choir is always the supporting core of our performances. You could say that Consensus Vocalis has stimulated the Twentse Matthäus Passion Foundation to raise the quality bar to a very high level.’
Albertjan Peters
Former chair STMP
‘We are happy with the function Consensus Vocalis fulfils in the cultural infrastructure of Overijssel and look forward to continuing the pleasant cooperation.’
Jacco Post
Director of Phion, orchestra of Gelderland and Overijssel

We love to hear from you

Do you have a question, a suggestion or a compliment for us? Or would you like to work with us? Feel free to let us know via the contact form. We will answer you as soon as possible.

Francis Faas, director