Role

:

Ensemble

Genre

:

Choral

 

The Budapesti Monteverdi Kórus is a renowned classical music ensemble based in Budapest, Hungary. The choir was founded in 1966 by conductor and musicologist Denis Stevens, who was inspired by the music of Claudio Monteverdi, an Italian composer of the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. The choir was named after Monteverdi in honor of his contributions to the development of choral music. The Budapesti Monteverdi Kórus has had a number of notable members over the years, including conductor and composer Zoltán Kodály, who served as the choir's honorary president until his death in 1967. Other notable members have included conductor and composer Péter Erdei, who served as the choir's artistic director from 1975 to 1985, and conductor and composer László Heltay, who served as the choir's artistic director from 1985 to 1995. The choir has performed extensively throughout Hungary and Europe, and has gained a reputation for its high level of musical excellence and its commitment to preserving and promoting the works of Monteverdi and other early music composers. The choir has also collaborated with a number of other prominent musicians and ensembles, including the Budapest Festival Orchestra, the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Tallis Scholars. One of the highlights of the Budapesti Monteverdi Kórus's career was its performance at the 1972 Salzburg Festival, where it performed Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610 under the direction of Denis Stevens. The performance was widely acclaimed and helped to establish the choir's reputation as one of the leading early music ensembles in Europe. In addition to its performances, the Budapesti Monteverdi Kórus has also received a number of awards and honors over the years. In 1977, the choir was awarded the prestigious Kossuth Prize, Hungary's highest cultural honor, in recognition of its contributions to the country's musical heritage. The choir has also been awarded the Grand Prix du Disque and the Diapason d'Or for its recordings of Monteverdi's music. Despite changes in leadership and membership over the years, the Budapesti Monteverdi Kórus has remained committed to its mission of preserving and promoting the works of Monteverdi and other early music composers. Today, the choir continues to perform regularly in Hungary and abroad, and remains one of the most respected and admired early music ensembles in Europe.

More....