Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists & Christophe Rousset
Biography Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists & Christophe Rousset
Monteverdi Choir
For over 60 years, the Monteverdi Choir has been recognised as one of the greatest and most influential choirs in the world.
Through a combination of consummate technique and historically informed performance practice, the Choir constantly strives to bring fresh perspectives, immediacy and drama to its performances.
The recipient of many awards, the Monteverdi Choir was named ‘Best Choir’ at the Oper! Awards in 2024 with the jury noting that: “At festivals, on concert tours and in their numerous recordings, this is an ensemble whose quality will always leave the listener speechless.”
Fresh from celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2024, the Choir has a full 2025 with a range of concerts and projects in support of MCO’s expansion of its repertoire and conductor collaborations.
This includes the opening concert of the Edinburgh International Festival, performing John Tavener’s monumental The Veil of The Temple as the central and only professional choir involved. The Choir previously commissioned John Tavener’s The World is Burning to celebrate its 30th anniversary in 1993.
The Choir also performs ‘Sing to the Lord a New Song’, featuring a selection of works by Purcell, Bach and Handel (including Dixit Dominus) conducted by Jonathan Sells, who was appointed Choir Director in March 2025.
Other highlights in 2025 include Bach with Masaaki Suzuki, Mozart with Pablo Heras-Casado, semi-staged Rossini with Jakob Lehmann, and Handel with Christophe Rousset.
On Good Friday 2025, the MCO’s own recording label, Soli Deo Gloria, released its first new recording since before the global pandemic with an album of Bruckner and Gesualdo motets recorded live in concert in October 2024, conducted by Jonathan Sells. In September, an album will be released of Charpentier conducted by Christophe Rousset that was toured across Europe last December.
The Choir’s anniversary season in 2024 opened with three concerts at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw conducted by Dinis Sousa. These performances were followed by Handel’s Israel in Egypt conducted by Peter Whelan in London and across Europe; Beethoven’s Mass in C major and Symphony No. 9 in London and Paris; and Bach’s sacred motets in London and Leipzig conducted by Jonathan Sells, who then returned to conduct the Choir in performances of Bruckner and Gesualdo motets in Ely, Oxford and London.
Founded in 1964 by John Eliot Gardiner, the Monteverdi Choir has released over 150 recordings and won numerous prizes. In 2023, the Choir and English Baroque were honoured to perform at the Coronation of HM The King, with The Telegraph proclaiming “if the Monteverdi Choir isn’t singing when I get to the gates of Heaven, I want my money back.”
English Baroque Soloists
For over 40 years, the English Baroque Soloists has been one of the most innovative period-instrument ensembles, consistently challenging the preconceptions of audiences around the world.
Equally at home in chamber, symphonic and operatic repertoire, its distinctively warm and incisive playing is instantly recognisable in music ranging from Monteverdi to Mozart. The orchestra has performed at many of the world’s most prestigious venues, including Milan’s Teatro alla Scala, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Sydney Opera House.
The EBS’s current season has seen them expand their repertoire and conductor collaborations, highlighting a drive for new creative challenges with a year that includes Mozart with Marc Minkowski, Bach with Masaaki Suzuki, and Handel with Christophe Rousset.
The EBS and the Monteverdi Choir are appearing at the 2025 Edinburgh International Festival with ‘Sing to the Lord a New Song’, which will feature a selection of works by Purcell, Bach and Handel (including Dixit Dominus), conducted by Jonathan Sells.
In December 2024, the ensemble performed Bach and Charpentier with the Monteverdi Choir on a European tour to La Scala Milan, Alte Oper Frankfurt, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg and St Martin-in-the-Fields, its London home. The tour was conducted by renowned French Baroque specialist Christophe Rousset, making his MCO debut. These performances were universally greeted with praise, with The Guardian describing it as “joyous and immaculate,” while Operawire noted “a fresh sense of artistic renewal”.
Also in 2024, the EBS joined the Monteverdi Choir for performances of Handel’s oratorio Israel in Egypt, conducted by Peter Whelan. This programme toured to the Palau de la Música Barcelona, Philharmonie Luxembourg, Chapelle Royale Château de Versailles, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg and Haus für Mozart, Salzburg. In 2023, the EBS and the Monteverdi Choir were honoured to perform at the Coronation of HM The King.
The ensemble famously took part in the iconic Bach Cantata Pilgrimage in 2000 alongside the Monteverdi Choir, performing all of Bach’s sacred cantatas throughout Europe, and recorded for Soli Deo Gloria, the MCO’s own label. They also made the earliest recording of Mozart's complete piano concertos on period instruments, as well as his greatest operas for Deutsche Grammophon.
Founded in 1978 by John Eliot Gardiner, the EBS has also participated in major opera productions alongside the Monteverdi Choir in works by Handel, Purcell and Monteverdi.
Christophe Rousset
is a leading figure in the world of classical music, internationally recognised for his work as a harpsichordist and conductor. Founder and artistic director of the ensemble Les Talens Lyriques, he has built a distinguished career spanning several decades, shaped by his deep knowledge of Baroque and Classical repertoire. Renowned for his refined interpretations and scholarly approach, Rousset is admired not only for his virtuosity on the harpsichord, but also for his ability to bring new life to forgotten or lesser-known works. His contributions to historically informed performance have made him a central voice in today’s early music landscape.
