Wroclaw Baroque Orchestra

The Wrocław Baroque Orchestra (WOB) was founded in October 2006 by Andrzej Kosendiak, Director of The Wrocław Philharmonic.  It is the only Polish philharmonic ensemble playing historical instruments. During every artistic season of The Wrocław Philharmonic WOB presents its own series of concerts enjoying enthusiastic applause from the audience. The repertoire of WOB encompasses works from early Baroque to early Romanticism, from chamber music to oratorios engaging massive forces.
The orchestra quickly achieved a high level of artistry, appreciated by music critics and resulting in invitations to various festivals (a. o. the subsequent editions of  International Festival Wratislavia Cantans,  International ‘Mozartiana’  Festival ,  L. van Beethoven Easter Festival, RheinVokal,  Uckermärkische Musikwochen, Mazovia Goes Baroque, Poznań Baroque, Concentus Moraviae), radio broadcasts, CD recordings and appearances with the leading Polish choirs. WOB cooperates with the world-famous early music performers and conductors, including: Giovanni Antonini, Jaap ter Linden, Andrew Parrott, Paul McCreesh, Peter Van Heyghen, Claudio Cavina, Benjamin Bayl, Andreas Spering, Christian Curnyn, Simone Kermes, Olga Pasichnyk, Renata Pokupič, Nicholas Mulroy, Daniel Taylor, Barbara Maria Willi, Nico van der Meel, Cantus Cölln, Taverner Consort, as well as the Metropolitan Opera star Aleksandra Kurzak. The cellist Jarosław Thiel has been WOB’s artistic director since the onset of its activity.
In January 2010 the Wrocław Baroque Orchestra recorded its first CD with the symphonies of Czech composers of the classical era – Koželuh, Rejcha and Voříšek, acclaimed by critics and music lovers. It received two nominations to Fryderyk awards 2010 and won Fryderyk in the Phonographic Debut of the Year category. The following CDs included Haydn’s ‘Times of Day’ Symphonies, a premiere recording of thitherto unpublished compositions by Franz Xavier Richter under the baton of Andrzej Kosendiak, and Bella mia fiamma… – Mozart’s concert arias recorded with the superb soprano Olga Pasichnyk. The latter won five diapasons – a distinction in the Diapason magazine ranking of the best CDs. The CD has been nominated for the Fryderyk award 2013.