Pls explain why

[max37274]

After this year's record-shattering January performance in Madison Square Garden, the ensemble were touted as the country's best new group in decades; no critic or reviewer had anything but praise for the young musicians.

(A) the ensemble were touted as the country's
(B) the ensemble was touted as the country's

[kstv]

ensemble a word of french origin but used as a collective noun in English
so by this fact it should be was touted.

[akahuja143]

ensemble sounds singular to me hence I would go with B

[kaulnikhil]

After this year's record-shattering January performance in Madison Square Garden, the ensemble were touted as the country's best new group in decades; no critic or reviewer had anything but praise for the young musicians.

(A) the ensemble were touted as the country's
(B) the ensemble was touted as the country's

group singular
ensemble singular

[lalmanistl]

agreeing with all, "best new group" is a Singular noun.
also "best" is superlative degree and it refers to singular noun.

So i will go with "B"

-STL