Ars Nova Copenhagen

Ars Nova Copenhagen
Name	Ars Nova Copenhagen
Origin	Copenhagen, Denmark
Founded	1979
Genres	Choral music, Early music, Contemporary music
Members	professional chamber choir

Ars Nova Copenhagen Ars Nova Copenhagen is a professional chamber choir based in Copenhagen, Denmark, renowned for performances spanning Renaissance polyphony, Baroque sacred music, and contemporary choral works. The ensemble has shaped Scandinavian and international choral scenes through recordings, tours, commissions, and collaborations with composers, conductors, and cultural institutions across Europe and beyond. Its activities intersect with major festivals, academies, and broadcasting organizations, contributing to Denmark’s cultural diplomacy and the global choral repertoire.

History

Founded in 1979, the choir emerged amid Denmark’s vibrant choral tradition linked to institutions such as the Royal Danish Academy of Music, the Copenhagen Cathedral choral scene, and the Nordic early-music revival. Early leadership connected the ensemble to figures associated with the revival of Renaissance performance practice and Baroque interpretation, drawing attention from broadcasters like Danmarks Radio and presenters at venues including Copenhagen Concert Hall and Roskilde Festival (for choral projects). During the late 20th century, Ars Nova Copenhagen engaged with the international early-music networks led by ensembles from England, Germany, and France, appearing alongside groups associated with names like Gustav Leonhardt, Philippe Herreweghe, and The Tallis Scholars. The choir’s evolution paralleled developments at institutions such as the Danish National Opera and the Royal Danish Theatre, reflecting a shift toward professionalization and commissioning of contemporary Scandinavian composers.

Repertoire and Style

Ars Nova Copenhagen’s repertoire ranges from Renaissance masters like Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, and Orlando di Lasso to Baroque composers such as J. S. Bach and G. F. Handel, extending to Romantic and modern repertoire including Carl Nielsen and Rued Langgaard. The ensemble is particularly noted for performances of Scandinavian liturgical and secular works by composers such as Per Nørgård, Vagn Holmboe, Ola Gjeilo, and Arvo Pärt—while also programming works by Eric Whitacre, Morten Lauridsen, and Ola Gjeilo in festival contexts. Stylistically, the choir synthesizes historically informed techniques associated with practitioners like Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Paul McCreesh with contemporary a cappella clarity championed by choirs such as Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and King's College Choir, Cambridge. This blend supports repertoire from modal polyphony to microtonal and minimalist idioms commissioned from living composers including Bent Sørensen and Jakob Bro collaborations.

Recordings and Awards

Ars Nova Copenhagen’s discography includes releases on labels that feature early and contemporary music, contributing to the scholarship and dissemination of Scandinavian choral literature. Their recordings of Danish and Nordic repertoire have been recognized by institutions such as Gramophone Awards consideration circles and broadcast features on BBC Radio 3, DR P2, and Deutschlandfunk. The choir has received national cultural honors from bodies like the Danish Arts Foundation and awards tied to international choral competitions and festivals, appearing on prize lists alongside ensembles honored at events hosted by organizations such as the European Choral Association and the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. Critics have noted the ensemble’s sonic precision and interpretive depth in reviews in publications like The Guardian, Gramophone (magazine), and Die Zeit.

Collaborations and Commissions

The ensemble maintains active commissioning programs, working with composers and institutions including Per Nørgård, Bent Sørensen, Vagn Holmboe estates, and contemporary writers affiliated with the Royal Danish Academy of Music and Sibelius Academy. Collaborative projects have linked the choir with orchestras and period ensembles such as the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Concerto Copenhagen, and chamber groups associated with Il Gardellino and Academy of Ancient Music. Cross-disciplinary collaborations include partnerships with choreographers and directors who have worked at the Royal Danish Ballet, scenographers from Aarhus Teater, and media artists commissioned by broadcasters like DR. The choir’s commissions often premiere at festivals such as the Copenhagen Winter Festival, Aarhus Festival, and international platforms like the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival.

Leadership and Membership

Leadership over the decades has included artistic directors and conductors drawn from Denmark’s choral and academic communities, connected to institutions such as the Royal Danish Academy of Music, the Sankt Annæ Gymnasium choral tradition, and university musicology departments at the University of Copenhagen. Membership is composed of professional singers recruited from conservatories including The Royal Academy of Music (London), Sibelius Academy, and national academies in Scandinavia, many of whom also perform with ensembles like Voces8, Concerto Copenhagen, and The Sixteen. Administratively, the choir collaborates with cultural agencies including the Danish Arts Council and management partners who liaise with international promoters such as European Concert Hall Organisation.

Tours and Residencies

Ars Nova Copenhagen tours widely across Europe, performing in venues like Wigmore Hall, Musikverein, Konzerthaus Berlin, and festivals such as Edinburgh International Festival and Aix-en-Provence Festival. Residencies have taken place at institutions including the Royal Danish Academy of Music, Aarhus Music Festival, and international academies such as the Tonhalle Zürich’s educational programs. The choir’s touring history includes collaborations with broadcasters and cultural institutes like the British Council and Goethe-Institut to present Danish repertoire abroad, and participation in exchange projects with choirs from Estonia, Latvia, Sweden, and Norway.

Category:Danish choirs Category:Early music choirs Category:Contemporary classical music ensembles