Biography B'Rock 2009

Baroque orchestra B'Rock was founded in 2005 by harpsichord player, composer and conductor Frank Agsteribbe and double bass player Tom Devaere. The orchestra is located in Ghent - Flanders.

B'Rock started out of a desire for renewal and rejuvenation in the world of early music. B'Rock is an internationally orientated group without a permanent conductor or artistic leader. The core of the orchestra consists of some twenty young musicians who have specialized in historical informed performance practice.

B'Rock stands for a presentation of early music that focuses on performance and style, whereby expression and intensity come first. In its programs B'Rock combines the standard Baroque literature with less familiar repertoire from the 17th and 18th centuries. The orchestra also pays special attention to the performance and creation of contemporary music tailored to its period instruments and often commissions renowned composers such as Uri Caine or Dominique Pauwels to write for the group.

Opera and adventurous music theatre form an important part of its artistic field. In 2006 B'Rock created a new version of 'Dido & Aeneas' (Purcell) conducted by Richard Egarr in an internationally praised production by the Belgian theatre director Jan Decorte. In 2007 the orchestra created 'La Senna Festeggiante' (Vivaldi) conducted by the Spanish specialist Eduardo Lopèz Banzo. In 2008 B'Rock collaborated with Transparant for the creation of the Monteverdi madrigal production 'Where is my Soul?' conducted by Skip Sempé. In March 2009 B'Rock created a new oratorium based on the gospel of Judas: 'Judaspassion' (D. Pauwels), conducted by Frank Agsteribbe.

Baroque orchestra B'Rock regularly collaborates with leading conductors such as Gary Cooper, Richard Egarr, Skip Sempé, Eduardo Lopèz Banzo, Alfredo Bernardini or Vittorio Ghielmi. Since 2008 also the Belgian rising-conductor Frank Agsteribbe regularly conducts the band. Regarding their collaboration with soloists, B'Rock opts for young but highly talented people such as Philippe Jaroussky, Johannes Weisser, Raquel Andueza, Gary Cooper, Sunhae Im, Vittorio Ghielmi, Kenneth Weiss, etc.

B'Rock plays about thirty concerts per season, both in Belgium: in Ghent (Music Centre the Bijloke Flanders festival Ghent), Brussels (Bozar, Kaaitheater, Klarafestival), Antwerp (deSingel, Amuz), Bruges (Concertgebouw, MAfestival), Liège (Philarmonie); and abroad: Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Early Music Festival Utrecht, Vredenburg Utrecht, De Doelen Rotterdam, Tage alter Musik Berlin and Regensburg, Innsbrucker Festwochen and Musikfestspiele Sanssouci. In March 2009 B'Rock toured in South-Africa.

Last season, 2009-2010, B'Rock made its debut in the Innsbrucker Festwochen (on special demand of René Jacobs), in Philharmonie (Liege), the Royal Wigmore Hall in London (on invitation of Gary Cooper) and in the Royal Palace (on invitation of the Belgian Queen). In January 2010 B'Rock created a new crossover concert project 'Lecture Songs', together with music theatre LOD.

In 2010-2011 B'Rock will debut on the Styriarte Festival in Graz, on the Romaeuropa Festival in Rome, The KunstenFestivaldesArts 2011; and will be guest on the Operadagen Rotterdam for the second time. Together with Claire Croizé, upcoming dance talent, B'Rock is creating a dance production 'Vor deinem Thron'.

From the start baroque orchestra B'Rock was unanimously praised by the national as well as the international press.