Awards and Distinctions
Diapason d'Or, Choc Classica, Diamant d'Opéra, Echo Klassik, Grammy nominations: the recording awards won by Hervé Niquet and Le Concert Spirituel since 1995.
A French baroque ensemble acclaimed worldwide
Le Concert Spirituel has received nearly fifty distinctions for its recordings, and for those conducted by its founder: Diapason d'Or, Choc Classica, Diamant d'Opéra Magazine, Grand Prix of the Académie Charles Cros, Echo Klassik, Edison Award, Gramophone Editor's Choice, the German Record Critics' Award (Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik), and two Grammy Award nominations.
These honours, won between 1995 and 2018 for the recordings listed here, recognise a twofold commitment: to bring French musical heritage back to life, from the grand motet to the tragédie en musique, and to do so with the musicological rigour and stage energy that are Hervé Niquet's hallmark. International critics have singled out world-premiere recordings of Lully, Marais, Campra, Destouches, Rameau and Grétry, as well as works by Charpentier, Purcell, Handel and Striggio. This article lists the main awards, recording by recording, for music lovers, programmers, journalists and patrons who wish to gauge the ensemble's standing.
Spiritual Concert Nursery
Le Concert Spirituel, founded in 1987 by Hervé Niquet, has received nearly fifty distinctions for its recordings, and for those conducted by its founder: Diapason d'Or, Choc Classica, Diamant d'Opéra Magazine, Grand Prix of the Académie Charles Cros, Echo Klassik, Edison Award, Gramophone Editor's Choice, the German Record Critics' Award (Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik), and two Grammy Award nominations.These honours, won between 1995 and 2018 for the recordings listed here, recognise a twofold commitment: to bring French musical heritage back to life, from the grand motet to the tragédie en musique, and to do so with the musicological rigour and stage energy that are Hervé Niquet's hallmark.
International critics have singled out world-premiere recordings of Lully, Marais, Campra, Destouches, Rameau and Grétry, as well as works by Charpentier, Purcell, Handel and Striggio. This article lists the main awards, recording by recording, for music lovers, programmers, journalists and patrons who wish to gauge the ensemble's standing.
Le Concert Spirituel's Leading Distinctions
Eleven of its recordings have received a Choc Classica, the most frequent distinction in its list of awards, from Purcell's King Arthur (2004) to Benevoli's Missa Si deus pro nobis (2018). Five opera and tragédie en musique recordings have received a Diamant d'Opéra Magazine: Marais's Sémélé, Destouches's Callirhoé, Lully's Proserpine, Grétry's Andromaque and Campra's Le Carnaval de Venise.
Several awards have international reach:
Grammy Awards: nomination for Alessandro Striggio's Mass for 40 and 60 Voices (Best Choral Performance, 2012), and for Boismortier's pieces (Best Small Ensemble Performance, 2001).
Echo Klassik: Opera Recording of the Year 2009 for Marais's Sémélé, which also won at the 2009 Midem Classical Awards (first recording).
German Record Critics' Award (Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik): Best Production 2011 for Campra's Le Carnaval de Venise, and Best Opera 2017 for Lully's Persée (1770 version).
Grand Prix du Disque of the Académie Charles Cros: December 2010, for Grétry's Andromaque.
Edison Klassik Award: 2004, for Handel's Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks.
Gramophone Editor's Choice: three times, for Charpentier's Leçons de Ténèbres and Te Deum (2002) and for Benevoli (2018).
Diapason d'Or: for Benevoli's Mass and motets (1995), then for his Magnificat and Missa Si deus pro nobis (2018).Eight of these recordings are world-premiere recordings: Persée (1770 version), Les Fêtes de l'Hymen et de l'Amour, La Toison d'or, Le Carnaval de Venise, Andromaque, Proserpine, Sémélé and Callirhoé.
Frequently Asked Questions
What awards has Le Concert Spirituel received?
Le Concert Spirituel has received, among others, Diapason d'Or awards, eleven Choc Classica, five Diamants d'Opéra Magazine, three Gramophone Editor's Choice distinctions, the Grand Prix du Disque of the Académie Charles Cros, one Echo Klassik, one Edison Klassik Award, two German Record Critics' Awards, and two Grammy Award nominations.
Has Le Concert Spirituel been nominated for a Grammy Award?
Yes, twice: in 2001 for a Boismortier recording (Best Small Ensemble Performance), and in 2012 for Alessandro Striggio's Mass for 40 and 60 Voices (Best Choral Performance).
Which Le Concert Spirituel recording has received the most distinctions?
Campra's Le Carnaval de Venise (2011), Marais's Sémélé (2007) and Grétry's Andromaque (2010) have each received four distinctions, including a Diamant d'Opéra Magazine and a Choc Classica.
Who founded Le Concert Spirituel?
The conductor and harpsichordist Hervé Niquet founded Le Concert Spirituel in 1987. The ensemble's name pays tribute to the eighteenth-century Parisian institution that offered public concerts outside liturgical periods.
Which Le Concert Spirituel recordings are world premieres?
Lully's Persée (1770 version), Rameau's Les Fêtes de l'Hymen et de l'Amour, Vogel's La Toison d'or, Campra's Le Carnaval de Venise, Grétry's Andromaque, Lully's Proserpine, Marais's Sémélé and Destouches's Callirhoé.
What distinctions has Hervé Niquet received?
Hervé Niquet is a Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres and a Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite. He has received the German Record Critics' Award and the 2025 Festival Prize of the Musikfest Bremen.