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.”

“The Monteverdi Choir has dominated the choral scene worldwide for more than 50 years.” The Guardian

“Two hours of musical delight...the Monteverdi Choir displayed such effortless virtuosity...leaving the audience in awe.” Musica (Italy)