The English Concert was founded in 1972. It was at the forefront of a revolution in the way early music was performed. Early pioneers, like TEC founder Trevor Pinnock, embraced this journey of curiosity and exploration, discovering new sounds and textures that enriched the emotional impact of the music. This also coincided with a golden age of recording technology and, through LPs, cassettes, and CDs, The English Concert soon became a household name. Outstanding musicianship was suddenly accessible to many.

Since 2008, under the helm of artistic director Harry Bicket, TEC has deepened its commitment to Handel's operas and oratorios, and continued to build on its global reputation. From Carnegie Hall to the Incheon Arts Center, with regular appearances at the BBC Proms and a residency at Garsington Opera, TEC has become known not just as a great period orchestra, but, to quote our US friends, "a great orchestra, period." TEC's trademark dynamism, whether seen on stage, on record, or on camera, feels somehow ever-renewing.