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 and Artistic Director of Arcangelo. He is also Artistic Advisor to London Handel Festival.  He held the position of Music Director of Les Violons du Roy for 10 years.

Throughout the 2025/26 season, Jonathan continues to have a strong presence on both sides of the Atlantic. With Handel and Haydn Society, he directs their performances of Saul and Messiah, and, in Europe, makes his debuts with Güzernich-Orchester Köln, in a complete performance of Bach’s Weihnachtsoratorium; and Helsinki Philharmonic, in Haydn’s Creation. Further debuts include Slovenian Philharmonic, BBC Philharmonic and Tampere Philharmonic. He returns to Orchestre de Liege and Glyndebourne Festival Opera for a new production of Monteverdi Orfeo.

Other recent engagements have included Messiah with Houston Symphony, St Matthew Passion with both Rotterdam Philharmonic and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Glyndebourne Festival for a revival of Barrie Kosky’s production of Handel Saul.  

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.

Arcangelo’s founding commitment to the recording studio has produced 30 critically lauded albums including ‘Arias for Guadagni’ and Bach Cantatas with Iestyn Davies (Hyperion; Gramophone Award 2012 and 2017), Mozart Violin Concertos with Vilde Frang (Warner; ECHO Klassik Award 2015) C.P.E. Bach Cello Concertos with Nicolas Altstaedt (Hyperion; BBC Music Magazine Award 2017), Buxtehude Trio Sonatas Op.1 (Alpha Classics; GRAMMY Nominee 2018), ‘Tiranno’ with Kate Lindsey (Alpha; Sunday Times Records of the Year 2021). Arcangelo’s latest recordings include  Handel Theodora, Handel Chandos Anthems and a landmark project with Nicolas Altstaedt to make the first survey on period instruments of Boccherini Cello Concertos (Alpha).