Welcome to Hyperion Records, an independent British classical label devoted to presenting high-quality recordings of music of all styles and from all periods from the twelfth century to the twenty-first.

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Artist Hyperion Records
Monks, Christopher (conductor)

Christopher Monks (conductor)

The founder and Artistic Director of Armonico Consort and its ground-breaking education programme AC Academy, Christopher Monks has established himself as a versatile and prolific conductor and keyboard player.

Specializing in the performance of music from the Baroque and late Renaissance, Christopher is equally at home with major and modern choral repertoire, and during his career he has conducted at many of the greatest concert halls in the UK, including the Royal Albert Hall, the Barbican, Wigmore Hall and Cadogan Hall in London, the Symphony Hall in Birmingham, and the RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Christopher performs regularly at major national festivals and has worked extensively abroad, including in Israel, Italy, Ireland and France.

Alongside his work with Armonico Consort, he has conducted internationally renowned orchestras and ensembles such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia and the European Union Chamber Orchestra.

A chorister at the age of eight, through that world Christopher was introduced to the music of Byrd, Tallis, Bach, Monteverdi and Handel, of which today he is a highly acclaimed champion.

After graduating from Cambridge University, where he was organ scholar at Gonville and Caius College, Christopher went on as an organist under David Hill at Winchester Cathedral. Through David’s inspiration, he developed a passion and a talent for choral conducting.

Although he admits to be cautious of much contemporary music, Christopher has commissioned many new works, including the ambitious Prodigal Son by Girling, premiered with Dame Evelyn Glennie, and Beowulf, an epic drama by Toby Young which was premiered during during Armonico Consort’s 2017 season.

Christopher’s latest recordings, including his rendition of Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas, have earned him several five-star reviews in The Times, The Independent and The Guardian.

A passionate advocate of reaching out to children of all backgrounds through the creation of youth choirs, Christopher has founded and developed AC Academy, a music education programme which offers life-changing experiences and first-class performance opportunities. When not conducting, Christopher loves fine cooking and after a long day of music preparation, he often enjoys going for a cycle.

To anybody who asked him whether he has ever thought to give up his musical career, Christopher would bluntly reply:

'No, it feels bizarre when I talk to other people about their jobs for which they struggle to get out of bed, and I have never felt like a have a job. I just wake up and do a hobby.'

Albums

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Complete works available for download

Alphabetical listing of all musical works

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