Jonathan Cohen

Jonathan Cohen has forged a remarkable career as a conductor, cellist and keyboardist. Well known for his passion and commitment to chamber music Jonathan is equally at home in such diverse activities as baroque opera and the classical symphonic repertoire. He is Artistic Director of Handel and Haydn Society, Artistic Director of Arcangelo, Music Director of Les Violons du Roy and Artistic Director of Tetbury Festival. From 2025 he becomes Artistic Advisor to London Handel Festival. Throughout the 24-25 season, Jonathan continues to have a strong presence on both sides of the Atlantic. He returns to Kammerorchester Basel and directs performances of St Matthew Passion with both Rotterdam Philharmonic and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. He returns to Glyndebourne Festival for a revival of Barrie Kosky’s production of Handel Saul. He leads both Handel and Haydn Society and Houston Symphony Orchestra in Messiah, and with Handel and Haydn he also conducts Haydn The Seasons, Mozart Requiem and Beethoven Mass in C. Jonathan founded Arcangelo in 2010 to create high quality bespoke projects. The ensemble was the first named Baroque Ensemble in Residence at Wigmore Hall, where it enjoys a continuing close association, and has toured to exceptional halls and festivals including Philharmonie Berlin, Vienna Konzerthaus, Barbican Centre, Kölner Philharmonie, Salzburg Festival, MA Festival Bruges, with three appearances at the BBC Proms including the premiere of Handel ‘Theodora’ (2018) and a televised performance of Bach St Matthew Passion (2021). They are Principal Ensemble in Residence at the London Handel Festival from 2025.