Le Concert des Nations

Le Concert des Nations enjoys a reputation as one of the finest period-instrument ensembles. The exceptional impact of the orchestra is made evident through its worldwide appearances at renowned concert halls and major festivals, as well as through its numerous recordings.

Founded in 1989 by Jordi Savall and Montserrat Figueras during the preparation of Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s Canticum ad Beatam Virginem Mariam, Le Concert des Nations was born out of the need for a period instrument orchestra capable of performing repertory from the Baroque to the Romantic periods. Its name comes from François Couperin’s work Les Nations, a concept that represents the coming together of musical tastes and the idea that art in Europe would always bear its own particular stamp.

Le Concert des Nations, under the direction of Jordi Savall, was the first orchestra to have members who mostly come from Romance countries (Spain, France, Italy, Portugal) or Latin American ones. All are specialists in the performance of early music using original period instruments and historical principles. From the outset, the orchestra has aimed to revive historical repertory to the highest level, while respecting the original spirit of the works it performs. This is apparent in its recordings of works by Charpentier, Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Handel, Marais, Arriaga, Beethoven, Purcell, Dumanoir, Lully, Biber, Boccherini, Rameau and Vivaldi.

In 1992 Le Concert des Nations made its operatic debut with Vicente Martín y Soler’s Una cosa rara at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona and the Auditorio Nacional in Madrid. The group subsequently performed Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo, Soler’s Il burbero di buon cuore, Hidalgo’s Celos aun del aire matan and Vivaldi’s Farnace and Il Teuzzone.

Recently, the orchestra has increasingly dedicated itself to choral-symphonic works such as Haydn’s Creation, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and Handel’s Messiah. As part of the 250th birthday celebrations for Beethoven it recorded a complete cycle of his symphonies under Jordi Savall in 2020/21, released on two albums under the title Beethoven Révolution.

The ensemble’s extensive discography has won numerous awards, including the Midem Classical Award and the German Record Critics’ Award.