Orpheus has been working as a male choir for 120 years, with a rich repertoire from the Renaissance to musicals and a warm, recognizable sound that is rare in modern times. This long history, including anniversaries and local performances, makes the choir a cultural heritage in Alkmaar and the surrounding area. Right now, in this anniversary year, they are looking for new singers to pass on the flame.
No longer four-part
Due to an aging population, Men’s Choir Orpheus is steadily shrinking: once 200 members, now only 18, with an average age somewhere in the sixties. With so few voices it is difficult to perform complex, four-part pieces well. “If we can no longer sing in four parts, we can no longer deliver quality and we may have to stop in the short term,” warns chairman Herman Verberne.
Conductor Arjen Busscher agrees: “For example, if you sing opera pieces by Verdi or Mozart, it is more beautiful in four voices if the choir is a bit larger, then it is very nice if you have at least 25 to 30 choir members.”
