About Us

Each ensemble strives to bring fresh perspectives, immediacy and drama to performances around the world. Our world-class musicians specialise in historically inspired projects across a variety of repertoire ranging from sacred music to semi-staged operas, as well as intimate chamber works.

Following critically acclaimed European and US tours in 2023, performing Bach’s Mass in B minor, Handel’s pastoral ode L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato, and Berlioz’s epic opera Les Troyens, the Monteverdi Choir was named ‘Best Choir’ at the Oper! Awards in January 2024.

Founded in 1964 by John Eliot Gardiner, MCO celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2024. The 60^th-anniversary season opened with a spectacular tour to Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw in February and March performing Brahms’s Ein Deutsches Requiem. Over three mesmerising concerts conducted by Associate Conductor Dinis Sousa, the Choir captivated audiences and critics, and the performances were met unanimously with 5-star reviews from the press, with Bachtrack calling them “truly one of the finest choirs of their time”.

The English Baroque Soloists (EBS) will join the Choir to perform Handel’s biblical oratorio Israel in Egypt in March and July 2024, conducted by Peter Whelan at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, and on tour at the Palau de la Música, Barcelona, Philharmonie, Luxembourg, Chapelle Royale, Château de Versailles, Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg, and Haus für Mozart, Salzburg.

In May 2024 the ORR, conducted by Dinis Sousa, will perform Beethoven’s complete symphonies at St Martin-in-the-Fields in London, and a selection of his symphonies at the Philharmonie de Paris. The Monteverdi Choir will join the ORR for performances of Beethoven’s Mass in C major and Symphony No. 9. The ORR’s recordings of Beethoven’s symphonies have been described as a “tour de force… played at white heat”, “glorious” and “magnificent” by Gramophone magazine.

Alongside performances and recordings, MCO is committed to nurturing future generations of classical musicians. The Monteverdi Apprentice Programme enables outstanding young musicians to train and perform alongside MCO’s three world-class ensembles.

Annual report
Please visit our Charity Commission page to view our most recent Annual Report.