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 2024 Oper! Awards, 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’s 2025 programme expanded the range of its repertoire and conductor collaborations. This included two concerts at the Edinburgh International Festival: John Tavener’s monumental The Veil of The Temple on the opening night, conducted by Sofi Jeannin, and a programme of Purcell, Bach and Handel, conducted by Jonathan Sells (Choir Director), and streamed on DG Stage+. Other highlights of 2025 included Bach 1725 cantatas with Masaaki Suzuki, Mozart Requiem with Pablo Heras-Casado, Rossini’s Stabat Mater with Jakob Lehmann, and the Choir’s first performances of Handel’s Messiah in almost three decades.

On Good Friday 2025, the MCO’s own record label, Soli Deo Gloria, released its first new recording since before the global pandemic – an album of Bruckner and Gesualdo motets recorded live in concert in October 2024, conducted by Jonathan Sells. This was followed in September 2025 by an album of Charpentier Christmas music conducted by Christophe Rousset, and recorded during a critically-acclaimed European tour in December 2024.

In 2026 the Choir will embark on a European tour of Bach’s St John Passion, conducted by Peter Whelan, and collaborate with Laurence Equilbey’s Accentus choir for a tour of Bach’s Mass in B minor. Jonathan Sells will return to conduct an immersive production of Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas in the dry dock of Cutty Sark in Greenwich and on tour at the Bergen International Festival, directed by Andrew Staples. In the autumn Christophe Rousset will conduct Handel’s Theodora on a tour to South America, concluding with concerts in London and in the first season at the new Sohmen Concert Hall in the Schwarzman Centre, Oxford.

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

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

“They are truly one of the finest choirs of their time.” Bachtrack

We regularly hold auditions for the Monteverdi Choir. If you would like to be considered for the next round of auditions, please email a CV and any relevant recordings to auditions@monteverdi.org.uk with the subject line ‘Monteverdi Choir Audition’.