Christmas concert Cappella Pratensis ‘The Christmas Vision of Sister Bertken’

For their programme The Christmas Vision of Sister Bertken Cappella Pratensis took inspiration from Sister Bertken’s poems. In 1457, she had herself enclosed in the medieval Buurkerk. She spent 57 years in seclusion here, devoting herself to her faith. Museum Speelklok has been located in the Buurkerk since 1984.  

In addition, Cappella Pratensis will also perform songs from its broader Christmas repertoire, such as Jheronimus Vinders’ “Missa Fit porta Christi” and music by Josquin des Prez. This performance of music and storytelling promises to be a special Christmas experience!

Tickets

• Regular ticket: € 25.00
• With Museum Pass: € 17.50
• Friends of the Museum: € 17.50
• Students: € 17.50

Tickets include a free drink in the museum café. Buy your tickets here.

Music and narration about the poems of Suster Bertken

During the 57 years that Sister Bertken lived cloistered in the Buurkerk, she wrote poems dedicated to her faith and God and about the spiritual path she underwent. One of them is a vision of Christmas Eve. In it, she poignantly describes the personal journey of the Virgin Mary. The programme that Cappella Pratensis created especially for this Christmas concert is inspired by this poem. Together with narrator Herman De Winné, the ensemble brings the story to life with music by Josquin des Prez, Sister Bertken, and Jheronimus Vinders.

Internationally renowned ensemble specialising in Renaissance music

For almost forty years, the Gramophone Award-winning ensemble Cappella Pratensis has been known for its innovative approach of polyphonic music from the Renaissance period (c. 1400-1600). Polyphonic music is the simultaneous sounding of multiple melodies and originated during this period. The ensemble is one of the few professional ensembles in the world who perform directly from historical notation. This as opposed to transcriptions in the form of a modern choral score.

International awards and venues

In addition to regular performances in the Netherlands and Belgium, Cappella Pratensis has performed at leading international festivals and concert series in Europe, North America, South America and Japan, including the Boston, Berkeley, Utrecht and York Early Music Festivals. The ensemble’s recordings have met with critical acclaim and distinctions from the press. This includes a Gramophone Classical Music Award in 2024, perhaps the most important award for classical music in the world.

Other international awards received by Cappella Pratensis include the prestigious REMA-EEMN Heritage Project of the Year in 2022 and the Premio Abbiati della critica musicale in 2023.

Photo Cappella Pratensis (c) Eduardus Lee

Special project around the carillon in Museum Speelklok

Earlier this year, Cappella Pratensis made a special recording at the carillon in Museum Speelklok. The film made of this can be seen below.

Sister Bertken in the Buurkerk

In 1457, Sister Bertken had herself enclosed in the Buurkerk. She promised to devote the rest of her life to God in seclusion. She lived a sober life in a space measuring less than four by four metres. From her cell, she could follow mass and speak to people through an opening to the outside. Sister Bertken died in her cell in 1514 at the age of 87. A memorial stone in her honour can be found on Choorstraat. The Buurkerk is the oldest parish church in Utrecht and was built around the year 1000. Since 1984, the church has been home to Museum Speelklok.