Olivier Award Winners | Artistic Director Peter Whelan | Funded by Arts Council Ireland | Supported by Culture Ireland | Resident at National Concert Hall Dublin | RCN 20071233 The Irish Baroque Orchestra is acclaimed as Ireland's flagship period music ensemble and delivers historically-informed performances to the highest standards across Ireland and abroad. Under the artistic direction of Peter Whelan, scholarship and musical excellence converge in a unique way through the IBO’s work. This creates an original offering like no other organisation on the Irish classical music scene. Through this integration of research and practice the very idea of an orchestra is defined afresh, providing an unusual and enriching experience for today’s audiences. As an ambassador for the stories of Ireland’s musical past, the IBO uses its unique perspective to develop the growing store of knowledge surrounding the very early days of Baroque and Classical music in Ireland. The IBO's research, recordings and performances offer the people of Ireland a new opportunity to reevaluate and reclaim their cultural heritage, while also engaging the Irish diaspora through the increasing global reach of this work. Even Handel's Messiah - an annual touring highlight in the IBO calendar - is a rekindled link to Dublin's cultural life in 1742. The orchestra has a deal with Linn Records to produce an Irish heritage recording stream, which has seen the release of 'Welcome Home Mr Dubourg' (2019), 'The Trials of Tenducci' (2021) and 'The Hibernian Muse (2022). This series has enjoyed critical acclaim world-wide, receiving notable praise from Gramophone Magazine, the Irish Times, BBC Radio 3, France Musique & BR Klassik. In February 2022 the IBO made its Olivier Award-winning debut to critical acclaim at the Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House, London with Vivaldi's 'Bajazet', a co-production from Irish National Opera and the Royal Opera House.
