The English Concert

The English Concert is an outstanding orchestra: exceptional in the world-renowned quality, ambition, and variety of its live and recorded output; unique in the zeal of its players for working and performing together; unwavering in its desire to connect with audiences throughout the world. Founded by Trevor Pinnock in 1972 and now under the artistic direction of Harry Bicket and principal guest Kristian Bezuidenhout, the group has earned a reputation for combining urgency, passion, and fire with precision, delicacy, and beauty.

Trevor Pinnock directed the ensemble for more than three decades, shaping its distinctive sound and championing the performance of Baroque and Classical music on period instruments. The group’s outstanding recording output under his leadership, which includes critically acclaimed interpretations of Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi, won international recognition and helped establish the English Concert as a leading force in the early-music revival. This rich musical legacy continues to inspire and inform the orchestra’s work today.

The English Concert’s regular collaborations with key artistic partners reflect and enhance the pursuit of new ways to bring music to life. Joyce DiDonato, Dame Sarah Connolly, Iestyn Davies, Alison Balsom, and many others have contributed their extraordinary skills to individual projects and continue to help shape the way the ensemble performs.

A cornerstone of the orchestra’s annual schedule is its international Handel opera tour. Blossoming from an ongoing relationship with Carnegie Hall established by Harry Bicket, the group now regularly presents the composer’s masterworks at the Theater an der Wien, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, the Elbphilharmonie, and Barbican Centre, with the roster of important venues continuing to grow, particularly in East Asia and the United States, where the English Concert has appeared as part of each Cal Performances season since November 2021. Meanwhile, a regular London series allows the ensemble to explore a different path, presenting programs that challenge and inspire audiences closer to home.

In 2023, the English Concert launched its ambitious Handel for All project, which aims to film and make freely available all of Handel’s works online. For more information, visit englishconcert.co.uk.