About

Aedes

Regarded as “one of the finest choirs in France” (Le Figaro), capable of “doing everything – singing and performing – to perfection” (Le Monde), Aedes ranks among Europe’s leading ensembles, acclaimed for the purity and intensity of its performances.

Founded in 2005 by Mathieu Romano, this seventeen-voice ensemble has forged a unique sound under his direction that is at once precise, sensuous, and strong, with a vibrant energy that goes straight to the heart.

With a repertoire ranging from Baroque to contemporary works, with forays into other artistic spheres, Aedes loves to surprise, innovate, and blur boundaries: dance, theatre and the visual arts interact with singing, constantly opening up new horizons. Every Aedes concert is also a sensory experience.

A regular guest on the major French and European stages, Aedes also partners with prestigious orchestras to perform masterpieces of the choral repertoire. The ensemble’s extensive discography, devoted primarily to music of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, has reaped numerous awards.

Based in the Somme region and in residence at the Atelier Lyrique de Tourcoing, Aedes places transmission at the heart of its commitment by training future choral conductors, performing for a wide range of audiences, and raising awareness of choral singing among pupils and teachers.

In September 2026, Aedes launches a new festival – “Vibrations”, at the Royal Abbey of Saint-Riquier – dedicated to the art of choral singing.

During the 2026–2027 season, Aedes will take to France’s premier stages with three major productions showcasing its skills: Le Chant du Sabre, in collaboration with martial artist Masato Matsuura, Dans l’oubli, with actor Denis Podalydès, and Mozart’s Requiem, performed alongside Les Siècles and under the baton of Mathieu Romano.

In the press

Le chef Mathieu Romano et son chœur, toujours prêts à relever de véritables défis.

Télérama 04/03/2026

Mathieu Romano

At the heart of Mathieu Romano’s conducting lies a commitment to expressiveness and connection – bringing musicians together in a shared emotional experience in order to communicate deeply with the audience.

Drawing on historical research while focusing on a lively, intense interpretation, his approach consistently highlights the meaning and emotional power of the musical texts. He works both with singers and with orchestras, and his versatility, deep understanding of the human voice, precise gestures, and acute listening skills make him just as at home on the concert platform as he is in the opera pit.

A dynamic artist constantly on the lookout for new experiences, his repertoire ranges from music of the Baroque period to contemporary works. He also regularly takes on cross-disciplinary projects: real-time electronic music, film concerts, musical theatre, site-specific performances…

In recent seasons, he has worked with many distinguished orchestras and ensembles including Les Siècles, the Orchestre de Chambre de Paris, L’Itinéraire, the Orchestre National de Lille, the Yellow Socks Orchestra, the Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire, the Orchestra of Teatro Carlo Felice Genova, the Orchestre de la Garde républicaine, Les Frivolités Parisiennes, the Chœur de Radio France, the RIAS Kammerchor, and the Nederlands Kamerkoor.

In the field of opera, he has conducted, amongst other works, Breaking the Waves (Mazzoli) at the Opéra-Comique and Don Giovanni (Mozart) at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées. This season he will be conducting Orphée aux enfers (Offenbach) at the Paris Conservatoire (CNSMD) and Noye’s Fludde (Britten) at the Atelier Lyrique de Tourcoing with Les Siècles.

He is the founder and artistic director of Aedes. Together they take part in some of the most prestigious musical seasons. The ensemble and its many recordings are highly acclaimed by audiences and critics alike.

In recognition of his artistic achievements, Mathieu Romano was awarded the honorary distinction of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters (Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres) by the French Ministry of Culture in 2020.