Petr Wagner

Born in Prague, Petr Wagner studied cello at the Prague Conservatoire with Josef Chuchro. This was followed by studies in musicology at the Charles‘ University in Prague and at the Royal Holloway University of London. There he was introduced to viola da gamba by Richard Boothby, later continuing with Jaap ter Linden at the Akademie für alte Musik Dresden. After having completed his studies in Dresden, Petr was invited to study with Wieland Kuijken at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague where he received the Uitvoerend Musicus solo diploma.
As soloist, chamber and continuo player, Petr has appeared at numerous European festivals, as well as in other parts of the world – Israel, Japan, Mexico (Queen Elizabeth Hall/Southbank Early Music Series London, Fränkischer Sommer, Stavanger Philharmonic Chamber music series, Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, Royal Danish Chamber orchestra concert series Copenhagen, Festival Ile de France, Festival Art et Spiritualié – Troyes/Francie, Mexico City Shakespearean Festival, Prague Spring, Sopron Early Music Days, Mitte Europa Festival, Elbhangfest, Forum Musicum Wrocław, Concentus Moraviae, early music concert series of the Prague Symphony orchestra FOK etc.), and performs together with prominent personalities such as Jacques Ogg, René Jacobs, Enoch zu Guttenberg, Andrew Parrott, Konrad Junghänel, Sirkka-Liisa Kaakinen, Shalev Ad-El, Wilbert Hazelzet, Hansjörg Albrecht, Noémi Kiss, Stephen Varcoe, Mitzi Meyerson, and with ensembles such as for example Collegium 1704, New London Consort, Rare Fruits Council, Capella cracoviensis, Musicians of The Globe, Concerto Palatino, Orfeo Orchestra, Solamente naturali, etc.
In 1998 Petr Wagner founded Ensemble Tourbillon with internationally acclaimed musicians. Its core activities focus on 17th and 18th century repertoire, with music by Couperin, Bach, Marais, Rebel, Purcell, Finger, Fischer and Handel. 
Petr regularly records and broadcasts for BBC, Polish Radio, Czech Radio and Czech TV. He has appeared on nearly 40 CDs – either as a soloist or chamber musician. 
His CDs with Pieces de Viole by Charles Dollé (Dorian Recordings, 2003 / re-released by ArsProduktion 2012, ARS 38518) and Sonatae & balletti scordati by Gottfried Finger (Arta, 2006) have won enthusiastic reviews and reception world-wide. 
In 2011, Petr Wagner’s world premiere recording of Pieces de Viole by Roland Marais was released by the acclaimed ACCENT label (ACC 24299) and immediately received very warm acceptance (Choc du mois / CLASSICA, Diapason etc).
Gottfried Finger: The Complete Music for Viola da Gamba Solo with Petr Wagner and Ensemble Tourbillon was released by ACCENT (ACC 24267) in 2013.
Vienna 1709 (ACCENT, ACC 24284) with soprano Hana Blažíková and Ensemble Tourbillon directed by Petr Wagner was released in 2014, and has been enthusiastically received world-wide.
The latest CD, another world premiere recording of the unique orchestral suites Zodiaci Musici by J.A. Schmierer (ACC 24294) featuring Ensemble Tourbillon directed by Petr Wagner, has been released by ACCENT in April 2015.