Working with Warner Classics / Erato, Knight Classical has an on-going commitment to conceive, create, and deliver recorded performances of Berlioz works for our conductor John Nelson.

In November 2022 Knight Classical presented a performance of Handel’s “Messiah” at Coventry Cathedral conducted by John Nelson with renowned soloists Lucy Crowe, Alex Potter, Michael Spyres and Matthew Brook together with the English Concert and the English Concert Choir. This project fulfilled a lifelong dream of John Nelson’s, bringing together this inspiring work and the historic and symbolic setting of Coventry Cathedral, to express a powerful message of hope. The project, which was conceived, developed and promoted by Knight Classical, marks an important milestone in the series of recorded concert performances we are delivering for John Nelson. The performance was recorded for audio release by Warner Classics, for streaming by medici.tv and for television broadcast by Mezzo.

In October 2021, as part of our commitment to conceive, create, and deliver recorded performances of Berlioz works for our conductor John Nelson, we mounted two concert performances of Harold en Italie and Nuits d’Eté.  Nelson is joined on this recording by Michael Spyres (tenor), Timothy Ridout (viola), and long-term Berlioz partners Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg.  The recording was released on Warner Classics/Erato in November 2022.

In 2019, we continued our long-term commitment to conceive, create and deliver recorded performances of Berlioz works for conductor John Nelson by arranging concert performances of “The Damnation of Faust” in collaboration with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg. Along with John Nelson, the performances featured Joyce DiDonato, Michael Spyres and Nicolas Courjal. We also arranged for the recording of the performances, and the CD and DVD was released on Warner Classics on 22 November 2019.

Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust, Pt. 4: “Nature immense” (Michael Spyres, John Nelson)

In March 2019 we produced an unforgettable performance of the Grand Messe des Morts in the spectacular setting of St. Paul’s Cathedral. The project was conceived, developed and promoted by us to mark the 150th anniversary of Berlioz’ death, as part of our commitment to develop and deliver recorded performances of Berlioz works conducted by John Nelson. The concert was performed by The Philharmonia Orchestra, The Philharmonia Chorus, The London Philharmonic Choir and Michael Spyres and involved over 300 performers. The concert was recorded for CD and DVD release by Warner Classics and was live streamed by Medici.tv. 

Berlioz: Requiem (Grande Messe des Morts): VIII. Hostias – John Nelson, Philharmonia Orchestra

John Nelson on Berlioz