{"id":16360,"date":"2025-06-25T13:40:13","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T17:40:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.opus3artists.com\/?p=16360"},"modified":"2025-07-01T13:59:50","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T17:59:50","slug":"pbo-whelan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.opus3artists.com\/pbo-whelan\/","title":{"rendered":"Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale Appoints Peter Whelan as New Music Director"},"content":{"rendered":"

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale has selected acclaimed conductor, harpsichordist, solo bassoonist, and Olivier Award winner Peter Whelan<\/strong> as its next Music Director. He will take the reins in the 2026\/27 season, becoming the fourth Music Director in the company\u2019s 45-year history. Whelan, a native of Ireland now based in London, will serve an initial three-year term through the 2028\/29 season, during which he will lead much of Philharmonia\u2019s annual programming, including subscription concerts and signature initiatives such as SESSIONS and its innovative Jews & Music<\/em> series. More information on Philharmonia\u2019s 2025\/26 season can be found at philharmonia.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Whelan\u2019s appointment follows his triumphant debut with Philharmonia in March 2025, conducting Handel\u2019s Alceste<\/em> to resounding praise from critics, musicians, audiences, and board members. His dynamic artistry, historically informed approach, and magnetic stage presence captivated the Philharmonia community and made a compelling case for his artistic leadership.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeter Whelan represents the next generation of Baroque leadership\u2014bold, inquisitive, and deeply musical,\u201d<\/strong> said Philharmonia Executive Director & CEO Emma Moon<\/strong>. \u201cHis debut with Alceste<\/em> was revelatory, and we\u2019re thrilled to welcome him as our next Music Director to shape the future of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale.\u201d<\/p>\n

Internationally acclaimed for his leadership of ensembles like the Irish Baroque Orchestra<\/strong>, which he currently directs, Peter Whelan is celebrated for his electrifying presence on the podium and exceptional musical versatility. Renowned for breathing new life into historical repertoire, he brings a vivid, theatrical energy to every performance.<\/p>\n

Whelan made his November 2022 debut with San Francisco Opera during its gala Centennial Season, where his Gluck\u2019s Orpheus and Eurydice<\/em> was met with high praise:<\/p>\n

\u201cOverseeing the performance was Irish conductor Peter Whelan, an early-music specialist whose first appearance in San Francisco revealed an artist of delicate but unmistakable mastery.\u201d<\/strong>
\n\u2014Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle<\/em><\/p>\n

Separately, his work in London has also drawn acclaim. The Times<\/em> hailed \u201cA thrilling performance of Handel’s oratorio Israel in Egypt<\/em>\u201d with \u201ca sense of joy and release vividly conveyed under Peter Whelan’s direction.\u201d The Guardian<\/em> awarded the same concert five stars, declaring:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis vivid choral work could hardly have sounded more exhilarating. Directing from the keyboard, [Whelan] was mostly on his feet, all but dancing from start to finish. The orchestral playing was buoyant as well as sensitive, the choral work dazzling\u2026 Versatile is an inadequate description for this multitalented, Irish-born musician.\u201d<\/p>\n

Of his Vivaldi\u2019s L\u2019Olimpiade<\/em> at the Royal Opera House, The Telegraph<\/em> declared:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat keeps this piece going is its constant energy and drive, and that was captured to the full here by the Irish Baroque Orchestra, driven with crackling propulsion from the harpsichord by Peter Whelan.\u201d<\/p>\n

In August 2025, Whelan makes his conducting debut at the BBC Proms with a performance of Handel\u2019s Alexander\u2019s Feast<\/em> alongside the Irish Baroque Orchestra. This milestone marks the ensemble\u2019s first-ever Proms appearance\u2014and only the second time in the festival\u2019s 125-year history that an Irish orchestra has performed there. The concert will feature the modern-day premiere of Handel\u2019s three-part version of the work, which Handel adapted for performances in Dublin in 1742. The choice reflects Whelan\u2019s commitment to historically informed performance and his role at the forefront of uncovering and revitalizing lesser-known Baroque repertoire through rigorous scholarship and lively musicianship.<\/p>\n

As Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale\u2019s Music Director, he will program the 2026\/27 season and formally step into the role in July 2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m honored and energized by the chance to join Philharmonia Baroque, a group whose spirit, artistry, and integrity I truly admire. From my time with the orchestra and staff, I\u2019ve been struck by their warmth and the real sense of community and connection they share with each other and with their audience and donors. It\u2019s a privilege to work with passionate musicians who care deeply about the music they perform, and I look forward to exploring new repertoire together, celebrating the beauty of period-authentic performance, and building on the remarkable legacy of this orchestra, which deserves to be recognized and celebrated.\u201d<\/p>\n

More details about Whelan\u2019s first season as Music Director will be announced in early 2026.<\/p>\n

ABOUT PETER WHELAN<\/strong>
\nPeter Whelan is an acclaimed Irish conductor, harpsichordist, bassoonist, and artistic director renowned for his dynamic interpretations of Baroque and Classical repertoire. He serves as the Artistic Director of Irish Baroque Orchestra and the founding Artistic Director of Ensemble Marsyas. Whelan is also Curator for Early Music of the Norwegian Wind Ensemble and an artistic partner with Irish National Opera.<\/p>\n

As a conductor, Whelan is celebrated for his insightful and energetic leadership, particularly in reviving overlooked works from the 18th century. His recent engagements include performances with the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists, San Francisco Opera, Garsington Opera, Lahti Symphony, and the Scottish and Netherland Chamber Orchestras. In 2022, he received an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera for his work on Vivaldi\u2019s Bajazet with Irish National Opera.<\/p>\n

Originally from Dublin, Whelan studied at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and Trinity College Dublin. He has an extensive discography as a solo bassoonist and is recognized for his commitment to historically informed performance. His approach combines scholarly insight with vibrant musicianship, bringing fresh perspectives to early music.<\/p>\n

ABOUT PHILHARMONIA BAROQUE ORCHESTRA & CHORALE<\/strong>
\nPhilharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and is one of America\u2019s premier ensembles dedicated to historically rooted performance of Baroque, Classical, and early Romantic music. Founded in 1981 by harpsichordist and educator Laurette Goldberg, Philharmonia has earned widespread acclaim for its vibrant, period-authentic interpretations using historical instruments and techniques. It was led by Nicholas McGegan for 35 years, and Richard Egarr since 2020. In 2026, Peter Whelan will become the fourth Music Director in the company\u2019s 45-year history.<\/p>\n

Among the most recorded orchestras in the world, Philharmonia boasts a discography of nearly 50 recordings, including a coveted archival performance of mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt Lieberson in Berlioz\u2019s Les Nuits D\u2019\u00e9t\u00e9<\/em>, and a GRAMMY-nominated recording of Haydn symphonies. In 2020, Philharmonia released three groundbreaking recordings: a full collection of commissioned works by Pulitzer Prize winner Caroline Shaw, a selection of arias sung by rising star contralto Avery Amereau, and Handel\u2019s Saul<\/em> with countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen.<\/p>\n

The ensemble\u2019s reach extends across the globe through acclaimed tours and collaborations with some of the world\u2019s leading artists. Philharmonia is committed to bringing the music of the past to life with energy and relevance for today\u2019s audiences. Through its Bay Area subscription series, groundbreaking programs like SESSIONS<\/em> and Jews & Music<\/em>, and robust education and community engagement efforts, Philharmonia offers both depth and innovation. Anchored by a world-class chorale and a roster of musicians who teach and perform internationally, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale continues to set the standard for historically informed performance in the 21st century.<\/p>\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale has selected acclaimed conductor, harpsichordist, solo bassoonist, and Olivier Award winner Peter Whelan as its next Music Director. He will take the reins in the 2026\/27 season, becoming the fourth Music Director in the company\u2019s 45-year history. Whelan, a native of Ireland now based in London, will serve an initial … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16361,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[4030,4585,7421,7422,7165],"class_list":["post-16360","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-early-music","tag-music-director","tag-pbo","tag-peter-whelan","tag-philharmonia-baroque-orchestra-chorale"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.opus3artists.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16360","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.opus3artists.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.opus3artists.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.opus3artists.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.opus3artists.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16360"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.opus3artists.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16360\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16362,"href":"https:\/\/www.opus3artists.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16360\/revisions\/16362"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.opus3artists.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/16361"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.opus3artists.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16360"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.opus3artists.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16360"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.opus3artists.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16360"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}