Who is… Daniel Reuss?

Daniel Reuss is one of the leading conductors in European choral music. Cappella Amsterdam has been associated with chief conductor Daniel Reuss for decades. But what actually sets him apart as a conductor? And how did he become a key figure in European choral music?

Daniel Reuss studied at the Rotterdam Conservatory under Barend Schuurman and founded the Arnhem Early Music Choir at the age of 21. As a “self-proclaimed non-specialist,” he conducts a broad repertoire ranging from 12th-century choral music to contemporary works, which means he does not limit himself to a single stylistic period or movement, but rather feels at home in a wide variety of musical worlds.

From 2003 to 2006, he was chief conductor of the RIAS Kammerchor in Berlin. With this choir, he recorded several CDs of choral music that were very well received, including *Le Vin Herbé* (Martin), *Solomon* (Handel), and *Les Noces* (Stravinsky). These recordings have won several awards, including the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik, the Echo Award, the Diapason d’Or, and the Choc du Monde de la Musique.

From 2008 to 2013, Reuss combined his role as artistic director of Cappella Amsterdam with that of principal conductor of the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. From 2015 to 2020, he was also the principal conductor of the Ensemble Vocal Lausanne. With Cappella Amsterdam, he also released a number of highly acclaimed CDs, such as *Lux Aeterna* (awarded the 2009 Diapason d’Or), a CD of psalms by Sweelinck, and a CD of Janáček’s *Choral Works*, which won an Edison Award. The CD *Kanon Pokajanen*, featuring Arvo Pärt’s *Penitential Canon*, also won the Edison Award in 2017. The CDs *Missa Solemnis* (Beethoven) and *Ein deutsches Requiem* (Brahms), recorded in collaboration with the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century and soloists such as Carolyn Sampson, were also met with critical acclaim. In 2024, the CD won Missa Sancti Georgii featuring the work of Herman Finkers, performed by Cappella Amsterdam and Holland Baroque, conducted by Daniel Reuss, won the Edison Classical Audience Award.

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Daniel Reuss regularly collaborates with ensembles and orchestras from across Europe, including the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, Akademie für Alte Musik, Rundfunkchor Berlin, Real Orquesta Sinfónica de Sevilla, Orquesta de Granada, Real Filharmonía de Galicia, and Vocal Consort Berlin. In addition, he is deeply committed to fostering talent in the field of choral music; he is a professor of choral conducting at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and regularly gives master classes in choral conducting in Europe and beyond. His (mentor) students are also regularly involved in Cappella Amsterdam projects.

Daniel Reuss sets the bar high. The chief conductor of the Cappella Amsterdam chamber choir enjoys tackling “unconventional” and challenging repertoire. So that it can ultimately be made available to the public. Still, it is not only high culture that interests him. “I like to chat with the butcher and the greengrocer. Then you sometimes hear things that are more grounded in real life than, say, a theoretical discussion about historical performance practice.

– RD

Daniel Reuss is known for his ability to bring choral music to life, with a refined ear for balance, intonation, timbre, and expression. His interpretations are praised for their clarity and emotional expressiveness. With his international experience, numerous awards, and years of dedication to Cappella Amsterdam, he is one of the most influential choral conductors of our time. Anyone who wants to explore the depth of the choral repertoire would do well to listen to Reuss’s work. His choice of repertoire and performance style are a constant source of inspiration for musicians, students, and lovers of vocal music.

Although his musical tastes are wide-ranging, Stravinsky’s works are currently a source of inspiration, such as the opening of *Les Noces* and his *Requiem Canticles*. In 2025, Cappella Amsterdam recorded a CD featuring the later works of this very composer, which will be released in January 2026. Want to see Daniel Reuss conduct Stravinsky live? In the spring of 2026, Cappella Amsterdam will perform *Les Noces* under the direction of Reuss in concert halls throughout the Netherlands.