Monteverdi Choir & Orchestras

General information

The three Monteverdi ensembles – the Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists and Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique - are a leading force on the international music scene. World-class musicians and singers from many nationalities come together to share in the distinctive vision of our music director, John Eliot Gardiner, in groundbreaking projects that span eight centuries of musical masterpieces.

From the monumental to the intimate, from sacred music to opera, from early music to the 20th century, often in unexpected combinations, in each of our projects we strive for excellence.

Since 1964 we have performed in cathedrals, theatres as well as the most prestigious concert halls in the world. With an average of 50 concerts a year, each performance is an event generating widespread media attention. We perform as guest artists in international venues and festivals; we also often promote our own concert series. What sets us apart from other ensembles is the scope of our projects which often pursue a theme over several months or years. We currently collaborate with international organisations including the Opéra Comique, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and the Orchestre National de France.

Our concerts and recordings are regularly praised for their excellence and honored with numerous awards. Most recently, the Monteverdi Choir was singled out as "The World's Greatest Choir" by a panel of international music critics in Gramophone Magazine.

Possessed of an instantly recognizable core sound, the three ensembles are in constant renewal and evolution. We believe passionately in nurturing future generations of players and singers and developing emerging talent. Through our Apprenticeship Scheme we place young musicians alongside experienced professionals, offering them opportunities to perform at the highest level as both ensemble members and soloists.

The Monteverdi ensembles have made over 100 acclaimed recordings for major record labels. In 2011 their Monteverdi Vespers of 1610 CD, recorded in Venice in 1989, was listed among the 50 best recordings of all time by BBC Music Magazine. Since the year 2000 they have recorded over 40 albums for their own label, Soli Deo Gloria.