Career

Cohen was the music director of the Boston Camerata from 1968 to 2008, and music director emeritus from 2008 until his death. He founded the Camerata Mediterranea ensemble in 1990. He has collaborated with French-born soprano Anne Azéma.[1] From 1992 onward, Cohen and the Boston Camerata collaborated with the Shaker community at Sabbathday Lake (in the US); together they recorded two albums — Simple Gifts and The Golden Harvest — of Shaker songs. Cohen produced recordings themed around historical, cultural, or religious concepts, such as A Mediterranean Christmas, Carmina Burana, and The American Vocalist. He recorded over 50 albums on the Erato, Nonesuch, and Harmonia Mundi labels.[3]

Cohen died in Haverhill, Massachusetts on July 26, 2026, at age 84.[4][3]

Vision and approach

Cohen often blended music with storytelling, exploring the social and cultural context of the works that he presented. He had an interest in cross-cultural musical traditions, frequently exploring intersections between Western early music, Jewish, Islamic, and other world traditions. He also wrote essays and program notes on the interpretation of early music, and he promoted historically-informed performances in the United States.