Wrocław Baroque Ensemble specialises in historically informed performance, having the main focus on exploration of uncommon repertoire from Central Europe. The group presents a variety of early music, from chamber works to oratorios and cantatas, keeping a particular interest in heritage of Polish Renaissance and Baroque. It was founded in 2012 by Andrzej Kosendiak and from the very beginning it has been operating under his artistic direction. Currently, it is one of the resident ensembles of the National Forum of Music in Wrocław. The core of the group consists of outstanding instrumentalists and singers from European countries (Poland, the Czech Republic, Great Britain, and Germany).
Wrocław Baroque Ensemble can boast a wide recording catalogue, which includes a series of CD albums dedicated to a Baroque repertoire featuring mainly works by the Polish composers – Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki, Bartłomiej Pękiel, Marcin Mielczewski, Stanisław Sylwester Szarzyński, and Mikołaj Zieleński (CD Accord). The series is available on Spotify and worldwide distributed by Naxos, earning laudatory international reviews on MusicWeb International, lassicsToday.com, and Fanfare Archive. The first album, with music by Gorczycki, was awarded the Wrocław Music Prize in 2013. In 2013, 2015, 2017–2020 the albums were nominated for a prestigious Polish music award, Fryderyk. In 2019, Mielczewski II won a Fryderyk, and Mikołaj Zieleński received the same award in 2021 (both albums triumphed in the Album of the Year – Early Music category). In 2015, the group released The Salzburg Marian Mass (with liturgical music by Mozart) in collaboration with the NFM Boys’ Choir under the baton of Andrzej Kosendiak.
The ensemble has appeared at major international festivals, such as Wratislavia Cantans, Ohrid Summer, Emilia Romagna Festival, Usedomer Musikfestival, and Festival Ljubljana as well as performing in numerous cities in Poland.
