The King'S Consort
The King's Consort is a period-instrument orchestra held in the highest esteem throughout the world. The Consort has toured extensively and has made over 100 recordings, performing music from the 16th century to the 21st. These performances are often made with its partner ensemble, the Choir of King's Consort.
The King's Consort was founded in Cambridge in 1980 by Robert King, a student at Cambridge University at the time. Initially, the ensemble consisted of a small choir and ensemble, but by 1982, the Consort was established as a full-time professional orchestra and began touring and recording in the years following, with several recordings made on the Meridian and IMP labels. The Consort, along with the Choir of King's Consort, has toured across five continents, including Japan, the U.S., and most of Europe. Its repertoire consists mainly of material from the Baroque and Classical periods, most notably the music of Handel, Monteverdi, Purcell, and Vivaldi. However, it has performed and recorded music dating back to the mid-16th century all the way forward to the present day, oftentimes commissioning new works by composers such as Michael Finnissy and Michael Berkeley. The Consort is also a regular performer at the BBC Proms. One of these concerts was the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2002, where the Consort performed a reconstruction of the musical program of the Coronation of King George II.
In 1987, the King's Consort began an exclusive, prodigious relationship with Hyperion; it recorded dozens of albums on the label, many to great acclaim. Among the Consort's recordings for Hyperion are complete sacred music sets of Monteverdi and Vivaldi. It has recorded all of the odes, welcome music, anthems, and services of Purcell, as well as several operas and oratorios by Handel. In 2013, it began recording on its own label, Vivat; the first release, I Was Glad, was a critical success and was a finalist for the Gramophone award that year. The King's Consort, under Robert King, can be heard with Iestyn Davies and James Hall on a Vivat album of music by Purcell and John Blow, in 2019.
© Keith Finke /TiVo
Similar artists
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Bach: Six Trio Sonatas (arr Robert King)
The King'S Consort, Kati Debretzeni , Huw Daniel, Robin Michael, Eligio Quinteiro, Robert King
Classical - Released by VIVAT on Sep 22, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Purcell: Complete Sacred Music
The King'S Consort, Robert King
Classical - Released by Hyperion on Nov 1, 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Purcell - Birthday Odes for Queen Mary
Classical - Released by VIVAT on Sep 24, 2021
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Exsultate jubilate & Other Sacred Works for Soprano
Carolyn Sampson, The King'S Consort, Robert King
Classical - Released by Hyperion on Feb 1, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel - Your tuneful voice
The King'S Consort, Iestyn Davies, Robert King
Classical - Released by VIVAT on Feb 10, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Monteverdi - Heaven and Earth
The King'S Consort, Robert King
Classical - Released by VIVAT on Sep 10, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Elegy - Countertenor duets by Purcell and Blow
Iestyn Davies, James Hall, The King'S Consort, Robert King
Classical - Released by VIVAT on Sep 27, 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vivaldi: Salve Regina / Telemann: Easter Cantata
James Bowman, The King'S Consort, Robert King
Classical - Released by Meridian Records on Feb 2, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel-Mendelssohn: Israel in Ägypten
The King'S Consort, Robert King
Classical - Released by VIVAT on Mar 18, 2016
Gramophone: Recording of the Month16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Purcell - Royal Odes
Classical - Released by VIVAT on Feb 26, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Couperin - Trois Leçons de Ténèbres
The King'S Consort, Robert King
Classical - Released by VIVAT on Mar 1, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: 9 German Arias, HWV 202-210
Carolyn Sampson, Alexandra Bellamy, The King'S Consort
Classical - Released by Hyperion on Jun 1, 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Purcell - Ten Sonatas in Four Parts
The King'S Consort, Robert King
Classical - Released by VIVAT on Jun 24, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vivaldi: Sacred Music, Vol. 1
Choir of The King's Consort, The King'S Consort, Robert King
Classical - Released by Hyperion on Apr 1, 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Coronation of George II: Handel 4 Coronation Anthems, Purcell, Child, Blow etc.
The King'S Consort, Robert King
Classical - Released by Hyperion on Oct 1, 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Favourite Baroque Arias
The King'S Consort, Robert King
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Musical Concepts on Jul 13, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lo Sposalizio: The Wedding of Venice to the Sea (Ascension Day, 1600)
The King'S Consort, Robert King
Classical - Released by Hyperion on Jul 1, 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vivaldi / Telemann / Bach / Pergolesi
James Bowman, The King'S Consort
Classical - Released by Meridian Records on Nov 7, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Purcell - Twelve Sonatas of Three Parts
The King'S Consort, Robert King
Classical - Released by VIVAT on Nov 20, 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vivaldi: Laudate Pueri / Nisi Dominus
The King'S Consort, Lynne Dawson, Christopher Robson
Classical - Released by Meridian Records on Nov 22, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Essential Purcell
The King'S Consort, Robert King
Classical - Released by Hyperion on Sep 1, 1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo