1 Dec 2025
“Listening to this , it’s easy to wish that Christmas lasted the entire year.” ★★★★★ The Times
We're excited to reveal our upcoming album Charpentier: Baroque Christmas. Out on 26 September, this SDG release marks the debut of celebrated French conductor Christophe Rousset with the Monteverdi Choir and the English Baroque Soloists.
The album features music by Charpentier, including the Messe de Minuit with its beguiling blend of sacred music and French folk carols. The Choir is also joined by outstanding soloists: Hilary Cronin, Keri Fuge, Samuel Boden, Ruairi Bowen, Edward Ross, Florian Störtz. The album was recorded in December 2024 during a European tour that saw the Choir perform at London’s St-Martin-in-the-Fields, Milan’s La Scala opera house, Frankfurt’s Alte Oper and Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie.
Christophe Rousset conducts the English Baroque Soloists and Monteverdi Choir at Elbphilharmonie, 2024 Ⓒ Daniel Dittus
Renowned for his Gallic elegance and refinement, Rousset brings fresh vitality to Charpentier’s festive works — the motet In Nativitatem and the Messe de Minuit pour Noël, enriched by the instrumental noëls (Christmas carols) that form the backbone of this distinctive mass.
Rousset returns to lead the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists later this season in the ensembles’ first performances of Handel’s Messiah in more than 30 years, as part of a festive tour through London, Paris, Milan, and Rome (10-16 December).
Listen to the single Kyrie eleison now:
