Monteverdi Choir Concerts

Experience Monteverdi Choir

Founded in 1964 by John Eliot Gardiner, the Monteverdi Choir is a globally renowned British choral ensemble specializing in historically informed performance practice, particularly of Renaissance and Baroque music. Initially formed to perform Monteverdi’s 1610 Vespers at King’s College, Cambridge, the choir quickly expanded its repertoire to encompass composers like Schütz, Bach, Handel, and Purcell.

Gardiner’s rigorous approach – emphasizing clarity of text, agile vocal technique, and instrumental colour – became synonymous with the choir’s distinctive sound. The Monteverdi Choir pioneered the revival of large-scale choral works often neglected for centuries. They are celebrated for their extensive recording catalogue on labels like Archiv Produktion (Deutsche Grammophon), including multiple award-winning interpretations of Bach’s Passions and Handel’s oratorios.

Beyond concert halls, the choir frequently undertakes ambitious touring projects linked to specific historical events or journeys – notably their “Bach: Pilgrimage” tour following Bach's footsteps. The ensemble continues to perform internationally under Gardiner and now also with his son Julian Gardiner as a conductor, maintaining its commitment to illuminating early music through vibrant and scholarly performances.