Harold Rosenbaum's two New York City choirs celebrate big anniversary seasons in 2012-2013. The Canticum Novum Singers (CNS), newly expanded to perform masterworks with orchestra, celebrates its 40th. The New York Virtuoso Singers (NYVS), a professional choir specializing in modern music, will enter its 25th season. Both groups were founded by Harold Rosenbaum.

"I couldn’t be more excited than I am now," says Harold. CNS will perform Bach's Christmas Oratorio (complete), and a major world premiere by Salieri will be coupled with Mozart's Mass in C Minor. NYVS will present 25 commissioned works by some of America's leading composers: Mark Adamo, Bruce Adolphe, William Bolcom, John Corigliano, Richard Danielpour, Roger Davidson, David Del Tredici, David Felder, John Harbison, Stephen Hartke, Jennifer Higdon, Aaron Jay Kernis, David Lang, Fred Lerdahl, Thea Musgrave, Shulamit Ran, Joseph Schwantner, Steven Stucky, Augusta Read Thomas, Joan Tower, George Tsontakis, Richard Wernick, Chen Yi, Yehudi Wyner and Ellen Taaffe Zwilich. These world premieres will be spread out over two concerts presented by Merkin Concert Hall. The choir then goes into the recording studio to make CDs of these works for Soundbrush Records. In addition, NYVS counters the popular (but rather doubtful) notion that December 21 will mark the end of the world as we know it by performing Haydn's Creation in Carnegie Hall with the Orchestra of St. Luke's.

Eleven fabulous soloists will join the choirs this season, including seven who have sung with the Metropolitan Opera and other major opera companies. For more information go to www.canticumnovum.org and www.nyvirtuoso.org.