He founded I Fagiolini in 1986 to share his passion for vocal music, and in 2026, the group will celebrate its 40th anniversary. Over the years, I Fagiolini has performed its signature projects across the globe on stage, online, radio, and television.
“Following [his] giddy, eclectic imagination wherever it leads.”
(The Spectator)
Robert has dedicated much of his career to exploring how audiences experience music, rather than simply how performers wish to present it.
His recent achievements include:
- World premiere recordings of Benevoli’s large-scale Masses, performed with multiple choirs (the first received a 5-star review from Limelight Magazine and was praised as “magical music” by Gramophone)
- Conducting premieres for choirs and orchestras, including the RIAS Kammerchor
- Musical Director of Clorinda Agonistes, a Monteverdi/Roustom dance production by Shobana Jeyasingh Dance, featuring tenor Ed Lyon
Conducting orchestras such as the:
- English Concert
- Academy of Ancient Music
- BBC Concert Orchestra
- Irish Baroque Orchestra
- Leading 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
- Capella Cracoviensis
Leadership & Education
Robert serves as:
- Artistic Director of the Stour Music Festival
- Director of the newly founded Fairest Isle Festival on the Isle of Wight
- Professor of Music at the University of York, where he directs two choirs and leads the UK’s only Master’s program in solo-voice ensemble singing
Ongoing Projects & Media Presence
In addition to his recording projects with I Fagiolini, he co-directs the ambitious Morales De Profundis Project, a 12-album series of complete Masses and Magnificats by Cristóbal de Morales, in collaboration with Eamonn Dougan for Hyperion Records. The first album received a Diapason d’Or, and Gramophone Magazine noted:
“We can be sure that the future of this bold project is in the best hands possible.”
Robert has also written and presented programs for BBC Radio 3 and recently:
- Created over 30 episodes of the YouTube choral series SingTheScore
- Co-founded and co-hosts Choral Chihuahua, the UK’s leading choral podcast, now in its sixth season, alongside Eamonn Dougan and Nicholas Mulroy
Robert Hollingworth is represented worldwide by Percius.
