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Peter Whelan

Music Director Designate

 

Music Director: Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale (from the 2026/27 season)

Artistic Director: Irish Baroque Orchestra

Curator for Early Music: Norwegian Wind Ensemble

Olivier Award winner, Peter Whelan, is among the most dynamic and versatile exponents of historical performance of his generation. He is Artistic Director of Irish Baroque Orchestra and Curator for Early Music of Norwegian Wind Ensemble. He becomes Music Director of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale from the 2026/27 season and is Music Director Designate in 2025/26.

As a conductor, Peter has a particular passion for exploring and championing neglected music from the Baroque and Classical eras. Recent engagements have included appearances with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Beethoven Orchester Bonn, Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra, Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, The English Concert, Dunedin Consort, Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists, Gluck Orfeo with San Francisco Opera, Vivaldi l’Olimpiade with Irish National Opera (across Ireland and the Royal Opera House, London) and Rodelinda at Garsington Opera.

Highlights of the 2025/26 season include an appearance at the BBC Proms with the Irish Baroque Orchestra and return visits to Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Meininger Hofkapelle, National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Tapiola Sinfonietta and Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists.

Peter’s artistic direction in live performance and the recording studio has been widely praised for its “rich insight, style and charisma” (Guardian), its “stylish verve” (BBC Music Magazine), and “energetic yet unfailingly sensitive direction” (Gramophone). As a champion of early music and opera, Peter represents “the very best of contemporary trends in bringing this music to life: flex and zest with tempi, lithe and vigorous … an incredible alertness to colors and moods summoned by the cut-and-thrust harmonic footwork of this music” (Operawire) and “The English Concert and their musical director Peter Whelan brought Handel’s fabulous score to life in a performance of surpassing rhythmic energy, richly dramatic colouring and heart-breaking lyrical grace” (The Telegraph).

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★★★★★ With shimmering gestures, Whelan connected with his musicians, teasing out every theatrical affect with a pulsating energy and intensity that gave goosebumps.

Jens Klier, Bachtrack, on Handel’s “Israel in Egypt”March 2024
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Overseeing 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.

Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle, on Gluck’s “Orpheus and Eurydice” for SF OperaDecember 2023
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The excellent Irish Baroque Orchestra play wonderfully for Whelan, who conducts with great elegance and elan.

Tim Ashley, “The Guardian”, on Vivaldi’s “L’Olimpiade” with Irish National Opera (Royal Opera House, London)May 2024
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What keeps this piece going is its constant energy and drive, and that was captured to the full here … driven with crackling propulsion from the harpsichord by Peter Whelan.

Nicholas Kenyon, The Telegraph, on Vivaldi’s “L’Olimpiade” at the Royal Opera HouseMay 2024
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The Monteverdi Choir and the English Baroque Soloists under the direction of Peter Whelan overwhelmed the audience at the Elbphilharmonie… He wants to touch and overwhelm. And he succeeds, unleashing a stunning intensity.

Marcus Stäbler, Hamburger Abendblatt, on Handel’s “Israel in Egypt” at the Elbphilharmonie, HamburgMarch 2024
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★★★★★ This vivid choral work could hardly have sounded more exhilarating. Directing from the keyboard, he was mostly on his feet, all but dancing from start to finish… pulsating energy and intensity that gave goosebumps.

Fiona Maddocks, The Guardian/Observer, on Handel’s “Israel in Egypt”March 2024
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Nothing can be criticized of the detailed direction of the ‘substitute’ Peter Whelan, always dynamic, brilliant and with absolute precision.

Dani Cortés Gil, Núvol, on Handel’s “Israel in Egypt”March 2024