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 artistic director, John Eliot Gardiner, in groundbreaking projects that span eight centuries of musical masterpieces. 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.
Monteverdi Choir: Founded by Sir John Eliot Gardiner, the Monteverdi Choir has over 150 recordings to its name and has won numerous prizes. Among a number of trail-blazing tours was the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage, during which the Choir performed all 198 of J. S. Bach’s sacred cantatas. In 2015 the Choir took part in projects from Bach’s Mass in B Minor tour and recording with the English Baroque Soloists, to a tour of the U.S.A. with Monteverdi’s Vespers and L’Orfeo, also collaborating with the Tonhalle Orchestra on Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass. The Choir has also participated in several staged opera productions, including Gluck’s Orphée et Eurydice, Royal Opera House (2015), Le Freyschütz (2010) and Carmen (2009), Opéra Comique, and Les Troyens, Théâtre du Châtelet (2003).
English Baroque Soloists: The English Baroque Soloists (EBS) have long been established as one of the world’s leading period instrument orchestras. Throughout their repertoire, ranging from Monteverdi to Mozart and Haydn, they are equally at home in chamber, symphonic and operatic performances and the distinctive sound of their warm and incisive playing is instantly recognisable. The ensemble has performed at many of the world’s most prestigious venues, including Teatro alla Scala, Milan, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Sydney Opera House.
2017 saw the EBS take part in the celebrated Monteverdi 450 tour, in which they performed all three of Monteverdi’s surviving operas across Europe and in the USA, a project that was recognised by a Royal Philharmonic Society award in the Opera and Music Theatre category.
In 2018, the EBS performed in Salzburg’s annual Mozartwoche, before embarking on a reprise of their landmark Bach Cantata Pilgrimage with the Monteverdi Choir in some of Europe’s most famous concert halls and churches, culminating in a residency at London’s Barbican Hall.
So far in 2019, the EBS has made its inaugural visit to South America for the Cartagena Festival, and is undertaking a tour of Handel’s dramatic oratorio Semele – visiting a series of iconic venues including the Philharmonie in Paris; Barcelona’s Palau de la Música; the Alexandra Palace Theatre in London; Milan’s Teatro alla Scala; and Sala Santa Cecilia in Rome. Later in the year, the EBS will make its debut in Russia and will then return to South America alongside the Monteverdi Choir with a programme of sacred music featuring works by Carissimi, Monteverdi, Purcell and Scarlatti.
Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique: Founded in 1989 by Sir John Eliot Gardiner, the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique (ORR) aims to bring the stylistic fidelity and intensity of expression of the renowned English Baroque Soloists to the music of the 19th and early 20th centuries
The ORR has also been acclaimed for its interpretations of all the major early Romantic composers, from Berlioz to Beethoven, as well as later works by composers ranging from Verdi to Debussy.
2018 saw a renewed commitment to the music of Berlioz, with an extensive tour of his major symphonic works (including Harold in Italy, Lélio and Symphonie Fantastique), the highlight of which was undoubtedly an appearance at the BBC Proms with star mezzo soprano Joyce DiDonato, amongst concerts in Europe and in the United States. As well as Berlioz, the ORR also gave several performances of Verdi’s monumental Requiem with the Monteverdi Choir in a critically-acclaimed European tour.
The ORR’s Berlioz celebrations will culminate in 2019 – the 150th anniversary of the composer’s death. In the Summer, the ORR will be joined by the Monteverdi Choir and a cast of international soloists for a series of staged concerts of Berlioz’s first opera, Benvenuto Cellini, in what will be the first contemporary performances of the piece on period instruments: It is perhaps fitting, therefore, that these landmark concerts will also take place in the thirtieth anniversary year of the ORR’s inception.
The Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique is under the patronage of HRH The Prince of Wales.