Tafelmusik cellist chats about playing a cello for 1707, Haydn's sense of humour, and his upcoming solo in Bohemian Rhapsody. The post Introducing Rachel Podger appeared first on Tafelmusik ..read more

“A treasure for Torontonians to celebrate and cherish.” —Barcza Blog And just like that, Tafelmusik’s 45th anniversary season has come to a close. In addition to presenting ten dynamic concerts, we completed our first tour since 2019 to the US, along with a new live concert recording for future release on the Tafelmusik Media label. The Sound of Beauty was a perfect theme for our season curated by Tafelmusik’s Artistic Co-Directors —violist Brandon Chui, bassoonist Dominic Teresi, and violinist Cristina Zacharias, together with Tafelmusik Choir Director, Ivars Taurins. Whether at home in ..read more

McMichael Centre: June 23, 2024 Toronto Botanical Gardens: June 30, 2024 John Abberger, oboe Geneviève Gilardeau, violin Michael Unterman, cello Jonathan Stuchbery, guitar & lute Program On the Baltic Johan Helmich Roman “Piva” from Sonata no. 10 Anonymous (Poland) “Polonies” no. 8 & 9 Georg Philipp Telemann Polonoise Trio sonata in B-Flat Major British Isles Traditional “The Globby O” William Corkine Divisions on “The Punckes Delight” Charles Mclean Sonata on “Twas Within A Furlong Of Edinborough Town” Henry Purcell Sonata in 3 parts Spanish ..read more

Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra & Choir Live performances: May 31–June 2, 2024 at Koerner Hall, TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning Directed by Ivars Taurins Amanda Forsythe, soprano Thomas Hobbs, tenor Program Chorus Your harps and cymbals sound, from Solomon Tenor Air Tune your harps, from Esther Soprano Air Sweet bird, from L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato Tenor Air/Chorus Sound an alarm, from Judas Maccabeus Soprano Air In Jehovah’s awful sight, from Deborah Chorus Throughout the land Jehovah praise, from Solomon Chorus Doleful tidings ..read more

Last summer, John Abberger announced that he would be retiring at the end of the 45th anniversary season. As Tafelmusik’s principal oboist since 1989 John has made a significant and lasting contribution to the orchestra over the years, both on stage and behind the scenes as a member of various committees. One of North America’s leading performers on historical oboes, John is known for the “touching serenity” (Gramophone) of his playing. His Tafelmusik recording of Alessandro Marcello’s famous oboe concerto is considered “one of the best there is.” Though his passion for our repertoire ..read more

Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra Directed by Kristian Bezuidenhout Live performances: May 10–12, 2024 at Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre Program HENRY PURCELL Suite of Ayres for the Theatre Overture – Rondeau – Hornpipe – Slow Air – Act Tune – Air – Curtain Tune CHARLES AVISON Concerto grosso no. 5 in D Minor, after ScarlattiLargo – Allegro – Andante moderato – Allegro JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH Concerto for harpsichord in G Minor, BWV 1058 Allegro – Andante – Allegro assai INTERMISSION JEAN-PHILIPPE RAMEAU Concert en sextuorLa Coulicam La Poule (The Chicken) Menuets ..read more

As part of our Bohemian Rhapsody: Haydn & Benda program next week, Tafelmusik’s own Keiran Campbell takes centre stage as soloist in Haydn’s show-stopping Cello Concerto in C Major. We caught up with Keiran as he prepares for his upcoming solo to chat about cellos old and new, Haydn’s sense of humour, and what makes this concerto so special. How would you describe the cello’s first entry in the Haydn concerto? The cello enters in the very first solo like a rambunctious child, jumping gleefully while trying—and failing—to feign a noble composure, stomping all over the place ..read more

Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra Directed by Zefira Valova Live performances: April 19–21, 2024 at Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre Program CARL STAMITZ Symphony in D Minor, op. 15, no. 3Presto Andante Prestissimo JOSEPH HAYDN Concerto for cello in C Major, Hob.VIIb/1 ModeratoAdagio Finale: Allegro molto Keiran Campbell, cello soloist INTERMISSION FRANTIŠEK BENDA Concerto for violin in A Major, L2.13Allegro Adagio poco andante Presto Zefira Valova, violin soloist J. HAYDN Symphony no. 44 in E Minor “Trauersymphonie” Allegro con brio Menuetto & Trio Adagio Fina ..read more

by John Abberger Being a member of Tafelmusik is so much more than a job. It is, first and foremost, a commitment to the art that we are passionately devoted to bringing to life, as well as a commitment to the excellence of every performance that we give. These values are part of the DNA of the organization. But it must be said (even at the risk of using a tired metaphor) that the orchestra is also very much like a large family. Nowhere is this more apparent than when we are on tour. On tour we are removed from our daily routines. We travel together, stay in the same hotels, and often dine t ..read more

Jonathan Woody: courtesy of the artist “This is precisely the time when artists go to work. There’s no time for despair, no place for self pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. This is how civilizations heal.” ( Toni Morrison ) by Luisa Trisi Does art, specifically music, have the capacity to lift us up and help us come to terms with the most painful episodes in human history? American singer and composer Jonathan Woody believes it does, and this conviction is what underpins his new composition that audiences will hear as part of Staircases, Alison Ma ..read more