Robert Hollingworth

The group are musical shapeshifters, following Hollingworth's giddy, eclectic imagination wherever it leads.

The Spectator

an impressive tapestry of sound, full of breathtaking beauty and smooth tone colours... [NDR Choir]

The Telegraph

an impressive tapestry of sound, full of breathtaking beauty and smooth tone colours... [NDR Choir]

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Robert Hollingworth

Director

Aside from his award-winning work with I Fagiolini, Robert is a conductor, broadcaster, educator, editor, Monteverdi specialist and festival director. Robert founded “musical shapeshifters” I Fagiolini in 1986 to share his love of vocal music - the group will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2026 and has performed its signature projects around the world on stage, online, on radio and tv “following [his] giddy, eclectic imagination wherever it leads” (The Spectator). Robert has spent much of his life considering how audiences receive music, instead of just how performers want to deliver it.

Upcoming conducting highlights include multiple world premiere album releases of large-scale, multi-choir Benevoli Masses with I Fagiolini (the first of which received a 5* review in Limelight Magazine and declared as ‘magical music’ by Gramophone), and directing territory premieres of the same with choirs and orchestras including RIAS Kammerchor (Berlin). Robert was musical director of Shobana Jeyasingh Dance’s Monteverdi/Roustom production Clorinda Agonistes, with tenor Ed Lyon. He has conducted orchestras including the English Concert, Academy of Ancient Music, BBC Concert Orchestra, Irish Baroque Orchestra and directed some of the world’s finest chamber choirs including Accentus, NDR Chor, RIAS Kammerchor (Berlin), Netherlands Chamber Choir, National Chamber Choir of Ireland, BBC Singers, Danish National Vocal Ensemble and Capella Cracoviensis.

Sing The Score Official Teaser

Robert has written and presented programmes on BBC Radio 3 and more recently created over 30 episodes of the YouTube choral series SingTheScore as well as founding and co-presenting the UK’s top choral podcast series, Choral Chihuahua, with Eamonn Dougan and Nicholas Mulroy, now in its sixth season.

For further projects, please download Robert’s full biography.

This biography is for information only, and should not be re-printed. Please use the link below to download the version for concert programmes.

Download 2023-24 Full Biography (.docx)

Download 2022-23 Publicity Photo (.jpg) - Credit: Riccardo Cavallari