Jonathan Cohen director & keyboards
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Jonathan Cohen is rapidly developing a reputation as one of Britain’s finest and most versatile young musicians. A conductor, cellist and keyboardist, he has wide-ranging interest and experience in music from the baroque to the contemporary.
After finishing his undergraduate degree at Clare College, Cambridge, Jonathan began his career as a cellist. He performed as guest principal with many of the UK’s foremost orchestras and ensembles, such as the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and The King’s Consort.
With this experience Jonathan developed a uniquely broad specialism in the field of early music and an interest in period instruments. He was a founder member of the London Haydn Quartet and with them recorded two discs of Haydn Quartets on the Hyperion label. He continues to enjoy chamber music projects, collaborating regularly with violinists Daniel Hope and Barnabas Kelemen. With countertenor Iestyn Davies, Jonathan will debut his newly-founded orchestra Arcangelo with a disc for Hyperion of cantatas by Porpora.
Jonathan enjoys a close relationship with Les Arts Florissants and has recently been appointed Associate Conductor. For the 30th anniversary season of the orchestra, Jonathan collaborated with William Christie in performances of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas and The Fairy Queen, as well as a programme of Gluck, Haydn and Mozart.
Jonathan has recently conducted Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea with Glyndebourne Touring Opera and Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria with English National Opera, and he returns to the music of Monteverdi in April 2012 when he makes his debut with the AAM. His performance with ENO received widespread acclaim, including from Richard Morrison in The Times: “Under the direction of Jonathan Cohen, the infinitely fluidic arioso of Monteverdi’s music is admirably vitalised — coloured, but never distorted, and paced like a thriller. Don’t miss.”