Peter Whelan Appointed Music Director of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale

In Wednesday’s (6/25) San Francisco Classical Voice, Janos Gereben writes, “Irish conductor, harpsichordist, and bassoonist Peter Whelan will become Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale’s fourth music director, beginning his initial three-year term with the 2026–2027 season. Whelan succeeds Richard Egarr, who resigned in 2024 after a four-year tenure. Philharmonia’s previous leaders were founder Laurette Goldberg (1981–1985) and Nicholas McGegan (1985–2020), who is now music director emeritus. Whelan’s appointment follows his March 2025 debut with the orchestra, conducting Handel’s Alceste, performances that Executive Director and CEO Emma Moon called ‘revelatory.’… An accomplished opera conductor, Whelan was also on the podium for San Francisco Opera’s centennial-season production of Christoph Willibald Gluck’s Orpheus and Eurydice in fall 2022, for which he earned rave reviews. Whelan is currently artistic director of the Irish Baroque Orchestra, with which he won a 2022 Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera for a production of Vivaldi’s Bajazet for Irish National Opera and The Royal Opera…. In August, Whelan is scheduled to make his conducting debut at the BBC Proms with a performance of Handel’s oratorio Alexander’s Feast…. Whelan will program Philharmonia’s 2026–2027 season and formally step into his new role in July 2026.”