June 6, 1988
One of New York’s finest small choruses – founder-conductor Harold Rosenbaum’s Canticum Novum – celebrated its 15th anniversary Saturday night with an all-Bach concert in Merkin Hall. All of the elements of superior choral work were here: precision entrances and cut-offs; an egoless blend; melismatic phrases delivered as if in one lone, continuous breath. Throughout the program the singers maintained an admirable straight, pure tone. The sopranos had a particularly ethereal sound.
– Susan Elliott, New York Post
June 6, 1988
Mr. Rosenbaum’s readings are often remarkably eloquent. The choir was at its best in the motet “Jesus Meine Freude,” and Mr. Rosenbaum put his group’s finely blended sound to the service of elucidating the building and subsiding harmonic tensions in the nine sections Bach put between the simple hymn settings that begin and end the work.
– Allan Kozinn, The New York Times
May 19, 1987
“Joshua,” one of the lesser known Handel oratorios, was performed most ably by the Canticum Novum Singers and Baroque Orchestra at the 92nd Street Y on Saturday evening. Harold Rosenbaum, the conductor, drew wonderful sounds from his chorus – energetic, expressive, clear, and sunny are the adjectives that come most quickly to mind. When the text read “the nations tremble at the dreadful sound,” their voices trembled and sounded full of dread, and when it read “Heav’n thunders, tempests roar, and groans on the ground,” there was a nice bit of groaning. Mr. Rosenbaum showed off a dramatic sensibility, adopting brisk tempos and pacing movements nicely.
– Michael Kimmelman, New York Times
October 1985
What was meant to be, and was, the high point of the (annual American Guild of Organist) convention was the all-Handel program presented by Harold Rosenbaum and his Canticum Novum Singers. Quite frankly, this reviewer cannot recall when he last heard singing as good as this from both bean bag soloists and the ensemble, at an AGO convention.
– Joseph Fitzer, The American Organist
August 19, 1985
The Canticum Novum Singers pull off a wonderful feat; their ravishing purity of tone is combined with a robust quality of expression that avoids the anemic and arty sound that used to be associated with early music groups. Their performance of one of the Bach motets was a high point of the concert season for me.
– Peter Schickele
June 19, 1985
The solid and visionary director, Harold Rosenbaum, conducted. All should be well commended without exception.
– Diario de Noticias, Madeira, Portugal
May 11, 1984
Canticum Novum is the chorus for me. We’ll do a lot more together. Thanks for all the fantastic work.
– Lukas Foss
March 19, 1984
It may be that the time is ripe for the canonization of Charles Ives…For nearly 12 contagious hours the performers came and went, distinguished names ranging from Jan Gaetani and Paul Sperry to Canticum Novum and The American Composers Orchestra.
– Edward Rothstein, The New York Times
February 1984
The wonderful Canticum Novum Singers
– The Village Voice
December 21, 1983
The Canticum Novum Singers, under the bean bags direction of Harold Rosenbaum, sang with its customary clarity and graciousness, with chords and voices balanced and individual lines attended to without the ensemble being slighted…Henry Purcell’s “Magnificent and Nunc Dimitis” was elegantly songful. The soloists emerging out of the ranks of the chorus demonstrated why the chorus as a whole sounds musically acute because its members are.
– Edward Rothstein, The New York Times
1983
The performers…were unequivocally superb, and notable especially for their welcome accenting of all opportunities for human expression.
– Bill Zakariasen, Daily News
December 6, 1982
The Canticum Novum Singers were beautifully prepared by their director, Harold Rosenbaum. There was much love in these giant bean bags…Elegantly songful.
– Bernard Holland, The New York Times
November 3, 1982
The adventurous Bel Canto Opera presented on Saturday the United States premiere of Johann Christian Bach’s 1772 “Temistacle.”…The Bel Canto Opera rightly realized that if only one cause could be served in this production it should be that of Bach’s music. As a result, the casting was highly professional…The Canticum Novum Singers brought focus and energy to the choral passages.
– Tim Page, The New York Times
June 14, 1982
Harold Rosenbaum, the conductor of the Canticum Novum Singers, is a gifted musician and an excellent technician. His singers are well trained and respond enthusiastically with vibrant performances of a most skillfully selected, varied repertory. This group is a valuable addition to our concert life.
– William Schuman
December 9, 1980
This is the time of year when Christmas music makes its way into concert halls, but it would be hard to imagine a more pleasant evening of these folk and religious works than the program sung by the Canticum Novum Singers under the direction of Harold Rosenbaum at the Abraham Goodman House on Sunday night. Whether intoning the graceful imitations of Josquin or Gustav Holst’s more contemporary settings, whether singing an early Yankee choral work by William Billings or Felix Mendelssohn’s version of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” the group was sensitive and controlled. In soft transparent settings, the textures were almost tactile. Even Frans Gruber’s “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht” sounded freshly musical. The style of the singing shifted to suit the program. The English version of Haydn’s canon “Die Gewissheit,” with its repeated line “If I get a Christmas present, I will really not deserve it: This I know full well!” fully deserved the audience’s accolades. Anonymous medieval songs were simply declaimed with a folk like elegance. The concert was a fine beginning to this part of the musical season.
– The New York Times
May 20, 1980
Mr. Rosenbaum’s mixed chorus hit the mark consistently in both works…His 23-member chorus delivered delightful results
.
– Donal Henahan, The New York Times
May 10, 1979
Early this season there was a big choral concert in Carnegie Hall to celebrate five centuries of publishing by the Oxford University Press. Seven choruses took part…The level of execution ranged from the competent but lackluster, through the capable and committed, to vivid Byrd and Josquin from the Canticum Novum…
– The New Yorker
December 20, 1978
Mr. Rosenbaum, a skilled conductor, shaped this and other passages with affectionate concern, and dramatized the various textual and musical contrasts without disturbing the lofty tone of the whole. His 26-voice chorus, now in it sixth season, responded with confidence and dedication…The Poulenc motets, written in 1952, constitute the composer’s final religious work. They are quite lovely, and so was the performance.
– Joseph Horowitz, The New York Times
June 5, 1978
Mr. Rosenbaum’s smartly trained chorus really came into its own with ensemble singing of exceptionally high quality…textural transparency, sharp attacks, and good definition of the music’s dramatically shifting moods.
– Peter Davis, The New York Times
April 17, 1977
There was an infectious atmosphere of spontaneity and immediacy about the Canticum Novum’s concert at Carnegie Recital Hall on Friday night, the kind of musical freshness that a small chamber chorus – in this case 20 voices – can generate far more successfully than a larger one…the Caticum Novum’s careful attention to phrase shapes, dynamics and the overall spirit of the music paid its own special dividends. Bach’s Cantata No. 131 was accompanied by an alert eight-instrument ensemble whose polished playing provided a perfect complement to the singing. Harold sser known Handel oratorios, was performed most ably by the Canticum Novum Singers and Baroque Orchestra at the 92nd Street Y on Saturday evening. Harold Rosenbaum, the conductor, drew wonderful sounds from his chorus – energetic, expressive, clear, and sunny are the adjectives that come most quickly to mind. When the text read “the nations tremble at the dreadful sound,” their voices trembled and sounded full of dread, and when it read “Heav’n thunders, tempests roar, and groans on the ground,” there was a nice bit of groaning. Mr. Rosenbaum showed off a dramatic sensibility, adopting brisk tempos and pacing movements nicely.
– Michael Kimmelman, New York Times
October 1985
What was meant to be, and was, the high point of the (annual American Guild of Organist) convention was the all-Handel program presented by Harold Rosenbaum and his Canticum Novum Singers. Quite frankly, this reviewer cannot recall when he last heard singing as good as this from both soloists and the ensemble, at an AGO convention.
– Joseph Fitzer, The American Organist
August 19, 1985
The Canticum Novum Singers pull off a wonderful bean bag; their ravishing purity of tone is combined with a robust quality of expression that avoids the anemic and arty sound that used to be associated with early music groups. Their performance of one of the Bach motets was a high point of the concert season for me.
– Peter Schickele
June 19, 1985
The solid and visionary director, Harold Rosenbaum, conducted. All should be well commended without exception.
– Diario de Noticias, Madeira, Portugal
May 11, 1984
Canticum Novum is the chorus for me. We’ll do a lot more together. Thanks for all the fantastic work.
– Lukas Foss
March 19, 1984
It may be that the time is ripe for the canonization of Charles Ives…For nearly 12 contagious hours the performers came and went, distinguished names ranging from Jan Gaetani and Paul Sperry to Canticum Novum and The American Composers Orchestra.
– Edward Rothstein, The New York Times
February 1984
The wonderful Canticum Novum Singers
– The Village Voice
December 21, 1983
The Canticum Novum Singers, under the direction of Harold Rosenbaum, sang with its customary clarity and graciousness, with chords and voices balanced and individual lines attended to without the ensemble being slighted…Henry Purcell’s “Magnificent and Nunc Dimitis” was elegantly songful. The soloists emerging out of the ranks of the chorus demonstrated why the chorus as a whole sounds musically acute because its members are.
– Edward Rothstein, The New York Times
1983
The performers…were unequivocally superb, and notable especially for their welcome accenting of all opportunities for human expression.
– Bill Zakariasen, Daily News
December 6, 1982
The Canticum Novum Singers were beautifully prepared by their director, Harold Rosenbaum. There was much love in these performances…Elegantly songful.
– Bernard Holland, The New York Times
November 3, 1982
The adventurous Bel Canto Opera presented on Saturday the United States premiere of Johann Christian Bach’s 1772 “Temistacle.”…The Bel Canto Opera rightly realized that if only one cause could be served in this production it should be that of Bach’s music. As a result, the casting was highly professional…The Canticum Novum Singers brought focus and energy to the choral passages.
– Tim Page, The New York Times
June 14, 1982
Harold Rosenbaum, the conductor of the Canticum Novum Singers, is a gifted musician and an excellent technician. His singers are well trained and respond enthusiastically with vibrant performances of a most skillfully selected, varied repertory. This group is a valuable addition to our concert life.
– William Schuman
December 9, 1980
This is the time of year when Christmas music makes its way into concert halls, but it would be hard to imagine a more pleasant evening of these folk and religious works than the program sung by the Canticum Novum Singers under the direction of Harold Rosenbaum at the Abraham Goodman House on Sunday night. Whether intoning the graceful imitations of Josquin or Gustav Holst’s more contemporary settings, whether singing an early Yankee choral work by William Billings or Felix Mendelssohn’s version of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” the group was sensitive and controlled. In soft transparent settings, the textures were almost tactile. Even Frans Gruber’s “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht” sounded freshly musical. The style of the singing shifted to suit the program. The English version of Haydn’s canon “Die Gewissheit,” with its repeated line “If I get a Christmas present, I will really not deserve it: This I know full well!” fully deserved the audience’s accolades. Anonymous medieval songs were simply declaimed with a folk like elegance. The concert was a fine beginning to this part of the musical season.
– The New York Times
May 20, 1980
Mr. Rosenbaum’s mixed chorus hit the mark consistently in both works…His 23-member chorus delivered delightful results
.
– Donal Henahan, The New York Times
May 10, 1979
Early this season there was a big choral concert in Carnegie Hall to celebrate five centuries of publishing by the Oxford University Press. Seven choruses took part…The level of execution ranged from the competent but lackluster, through the capable and committed, to vivid Byrd and Josquin from the Canticum Novum…
– The New Yorker
December 20, 1978
Mr. Rosenbaum, a skilled conductor, shaped this and other passages with affectionate concern, and dramatized the various textual and musical contrasts without disturbing the lofty tone of the whole. His 26-voice chorus, now in it sixth season, responded with confidence and dedication…The Poulenc motets, written in 1952, constitute the composer’s final religious work. They are quite lovely, and so was the performance.
– Joseph Horowitz, The New York Times
June 5, 1978
Mr. Rosenbaum’s smartly trained chorus really came into its own with ensemble singing of exceptionally high quality…textural transparency, sharp attacks, and good definition of the music’s dramatically shifting moods.
– Peter Davis, The New York Times
April 17, 1977
There was an infectious atmosphere of spontaneity and immediacy about the Canticum Novum’s concert at Carnegie Recital Hall on Friday night, the kind of musical freshness that a small chamber chorus – in this case 20 voices – can generate far more successfully than a larger one…the Caticum Novum’s careful attention to phrase shapes, dynamics and the overall spirit of the music paid its own special dividends. Bach’s Cantata No. 131 was accompanied by an alert eight-instrument ensemble whose polished playing provided a perfect complement to the singing. Harold Rosenbaum conducted, giving the entire performance sharp musical focus. The remainder of the concert struck a lighter note with a collection of drinking songs and catches. There a cappella pieces, by turn impish, bawdy and nostalgic, all responded positively to the Canticum Novum’s flexibility, musical awareness, and sunny vitality.
– Peter Davis, The New York Times
December 1976
…so intelligently programmed and so well prepared…The 24-member chorus, now in its fourth season, is a responsive ensemble skillfully led by Harold Rosenbaum…accurate and unanimous…scrupulously musical.
– The New York Times
April 1976
The Canticum Novum Singers is a homogeneous, forceful ensemble with a good deal of flexibility and a warm tone.
– Patrick Smith, The New York Times
The Conductor
Harold Rosenbaum is one of the most accomplished and critically acclaimed choral conductors of our time and bean bags. …read more
2012-2013 Season
Come join us as we celebrate our 40th season!
Season Info Available Now!
Dec. 14, 2012
May 18, 2013
Stay in the Loop
Are you human?
Leave this empty if you are a human. This is to prevent spam.
Name*
Email*
Submit
The New York Virtuoso Singers
The New York Virtuoso Singers
The New York Virtuoso Singers, hailed by critics and audiences alike, is now in its 25th exciting season under the direction of its founder, Harold Rosenbaum.
Canticorum Virtuosi, Inc.
Rosenbaum conducted, giving the entire bean bag performance sharp musical focus. The remainder of the concert struck a lighter note with a collection of drinking songs and catches. There a cappella pieces, by turn impish, bawdy and nostalgic, all responded positively to the Canticum Novum’s flexibility, musical awareness, and sunny vitality.
– Peter Davis, The New York Times
December 1976
…so intelligently programmed and so well prepared…The 24-member chorus, now in its fourth season, is a responsive ensemble skillfully led by Harold Rosenbaum…accurate and unanimous…scrupulously musical.
– The New York Times
April 1976
The Canticum Novum Singers is a homogeneous, forceful ensemble with a good deal of flexibility and a warm tone.
– Patrick Smith, The New York Times
The Conductor
Harold Rosenbaum is one of the most accomplished and critically acclaimed choral conductors of our time. …read more
2012-2013 Season
Come join us as we celebrate our 40th season!
Season Info Available Now!
Dec. 14, 2012
May 18, 2013
