Poland’s Wrocław Baroque Ensemble brings a rare masterpiece to Pécs

26 October 2026

A concert of remembrance unites Polish, German and Italian Baroque in Hungary’s Cathedral Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul

• Wrocław Baroque Ensemble presents Conductus funebris by Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki, one of the great works of the Polish Baroque, rarely heard outside Poland
• Joint performance with the Pannon Philharmonic Choir, directed by András Vass
• Concert forms part of the National Forum of Music’s major European touring programme in 2026

On 26 October 2026, the Wrocław Baroque Ensemble performs at the Cathedral Basilica of Sts Peter and Paul in Pécs, Hungary, in a programme conceived as a meditation on remembrance, timed to precede All Saints’ Day on 1 November.

The concert’s centrepiece is Conductus funebris by Grzegorz Gerwazy Gorczycki, one of the most significant composers of the Polish Baroque and still relatively unknown beyond his home country. A work of profound solemnity and expressive depth, it offers Hungarian audiences a Polish voice that deserves a far wider European hearing.

Alongside it, the programme places two works that resonate deeply with the themes of mourning and transcendence: J.S. Bach’s Trauer-Ode BWV 198, composed to mark the death of the Electress of Saxony, and Antonio Maria Bononcini’s Stabat Mater, a setting of one of the most enduring texts in the sacred choral tradition. Together, the three works create an evening of quiet power, entirely in keeping with its extraordinary venue.

The Wrocław Baroque Ensemble is joined on stage by the Pannon Philharmonic Choir, under the direction of András Vass. This is a continuation of the fruitful collaboration between the two organisations that began in Pécs in 2024. The Wrocław Baroque Ensemble is directed by its founder, Andrzej Kosendiak.

The Wrocław Baroque Ensemble, founded in 2012 by Andrzej Kosendiak at the National Forum of Music, specialises in historically informed performance with a particular focus on rare Central European repertoire. Its acclaimed discography on CD Accord and Naxos has earned multiple Fryderyk nominations and awards, and the ensemble performs widely at major international festivals across Europe. The Pécs concert is part of a major European touring programme by the National Forum of Music in 2026, with four resident ensembles performing across five countries between June and November. NFM Director Olga Humeńczuk comments: „We believe these concerts will give audiences across Europe a new perspective on what Polish music has to offer, and on what the National Forum of Music stands for.”

Programme:

A.M. Bononcini: Stabat Mater
G.G. Gorczycki: Conductus funebris
J.S. Bach: Trauer-Ode „Laß Fürstin, laß noch einen Strahl” BWV 198

Performers:

Wrocław Baroque Ensemble
Andrzej Kosendiak, director
Pannon Philharmonic Choir
András Vass, choral director

Biographies:

About Wrocław Baroque Ensemble

Wrocław Baroque Ensemble, founded in 2012 by Andrzej Kosendiak, specialises in historically informed performance with a focus on rare Central European repertoire, especially Polish Renaissance and Baroque. The ensemble’s acclaimed discography on CD Accord and Naxos has earned multiple Fryderyk nominations and awards, including for the recordings of Mielczewski, Zieleński and Żebrowski. Featuring distinguished musicians from several European countries, the group performs widely at major international festivals across Europe.

About Pannon Philharmonic Choir

The Pannon Philharmonic Festival Choir primarily participates in the Baroque and Viennese Classical concerts of the Pannon Philharmonic and focuses on the authentic, historically informed performance of music repertoire composed from the 1600s to the 1800s. The performances of the Festival Choir under the artistic direction of András Vass have been highly appreciated by both audiences and professionals since its inception. In 2017, at the 47th Varaždin Baroque Evenings, the orchestra together with the Festival Choir received an award for the best production.

About András Vass

András Vass is the permanent conductor of the Pannon Philharmonic, he has been successful in opera conducting.

Since October 2015, he has acted as the Artistic Director of the Pannon Philharmonic Festival Choir. The joint production of the Pannon Philharmonic and the Festival Choir won the award for best achievement at the Baroque Music Festival in Varaždin. András Vass is the author of several acclaimed musical transcriptions; many of his works have been awarded prestigious prizes, and he has collaborated with world-class musicians during his career.