Led by Rachel Podger, and
welcomes two new core orchestra members
A powerful season opener at Koerner Hall, September 26–28,
featuring classical masterworks and fresh new voices in the orchestra
Toronto, ON, (August 19, 2025) – Tafelmusik launches its highly anticipated 2025/26 season with Mozart 40 & Schubert 5, an invigorating concert led by Rachel Podger, the orchestra’s Principal Guest Director and one of the most celebrated baroque violinists of our time. Performances take place September 26 & 27 at 8p.m. and September 28 at 3p.m. at Koerner Hall, TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning.
Mozart has been a central figure in Tafelmusik’s artistic partnership with Rachel Podger, and the orchestra could not imagine a better way to launch the new season than with the brooding restlessness and urgency of Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G Minor. The work is a dramatic cornerstone of the Classical canon, and its stormy intensity finds a perfect foil in the radiant optimism of Schubert’s Symphony No. 5 in B-flat Major, a piece completed in Vienna when the composer was just 19 years old and clearly under the spell of Mozart, who had died in the same city only 25 years prior.
“Mozart and Schubert offer us the full emotional range of the Classical era, elegance, tension, and sheer delight,” says Podger. “It’s an honour to begin the season with these works alongside the brilliant musicians of Tafelmusik.”
Acclaimed by The Times as “the unsurpassed British glory of the baroque violin,” Rachel Podger is a trailblazer in early music. She was the first woman to receive the Royal Academy of Music/Kohn Foundation Bach Prize, named Gramophone Artist of the Year, and awarded BBC Music Magazine’s Recording of the Year for Tutta sola. Her recent recording with Tafelmusik, Haydn Symphonies no. 43 and 49, was described as “sensational” by Early Music America. Podger is the founder and Artistic Director of the Brecon Baroque Festival, and holds key academic positions in the UK and abroad, including at The Juilliard School.
Tafelmusik also proudly welcomes two new core orchestra members, selected following an extensive international audition process, rare appointments that mark an exciting new chapter in the ensemble’s evolution.
Meet the Newest Members of Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra
Jussif Barakat Martínez (Double Bass/Violone)
Originally from Ecuador and of Palestinian heritage, Jussif Barakat Martínez is a distinguished bassist based in The Hague. His path from jazz to early music has taken him across continents, performing with leading ensembles such as the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, Le Concert des Nations, Dunedin Consort, and Collegium Vocale Gent. A graduate of the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, Jussif brings a depth of experience and stylistic insight to Tafelmusik’s low strings section. He was awarded First Prize at the Viennese Bass Days in Amsterdam for historically informed performance.
Daniel Ramírez Escudero (Oboe)
A specialist in period oboes, Daniel Ramírez Escudero brings a vibrant international career to Tafelmusik. Originally from Mexico City, he studied with Alfredo Bernardini and Josep Domènech and has performed with world-class ensembles including Concerto Copenhagen, Il Pomo d’Oro, Holland Baroque, and Ensemble Zefiro. A passionate chamber musician, Daniel is also a member of the Pérgamo Ensemble and has earned a reputation for his expressive playing and meticulous approach to historically informed performance. “We are thrilled to welcome Jussif and Daniel to the Tafelmusik family,” says Dominic Teresi, Artistic Co-Director, Tafelmusik. “Their artistry and experience reflect our commitment to excellence and innovation, and we’re excited to share the stage with them this season and beyond.”
Accessible Tickets for 35 & Under Audiences
Tafelmusik is committed to making world-class music accessible to the next generation of concertgoers through Tafelscene, its program for audience members aged 19 to 35. Tafelscene members can purchase tickets to most concerts for just $20 (plus fees) and enjoy a complimentary drink during intermission. It’s an unbeatable way to experience the orchestra—no formal wear required, just great music and a welcoming community of young music lovers.
Subscriptions Now Available for the 2025/26 Season
Tafelmusik invites audiences to make music a part of their year with a 2025/26 season subscription. Subscribers enjoy a host of benefits, including priority seating, significant savings, flexible ticket exchanges, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content. With curated packages available for both seasoned concertgoers and those new to the experience, including the Flex Package, subscribing is the best way to ensure a full season of exceptional live music at world class venues across Toronto.
Performance Details
Tafelmusik presents: Mozart 40 & Schubert 5
Tafelmusik Orchestra, on period instruments
Directed by Rachel Podger
September 26 & 27, 2025 at 8p.m.
September 28, 2025 at 3p.m.
Koerner Hall
Running Time: 120 minutes
Style of Music: Classical orchestral
Tickets: tafelmusik.org
Media Images, click HERE.
About Tafelmusik
Brandon Chui, Dominic Teresi, Cristina Zacharias, Artistic Co-Directors
Glenn Hodgins, Executive Director
Every now and then a group of musicians comes along and changes the way we think about music. For over four decades, Tafelmusik has been synonymous worldwide with dynamic, engaging, and soulful performances informed by scholarship, passion and artistic excellence. Performing on instruments and in styles appropriate to the era, Tafelmusik has performed in more than 350 cities in 32 countries. Its extensive discography on the Sony, CBC Records, Analekta and Tafelmusik Media labels have garnered ten JUNOs and numerous international recording prizes. From a vibrant home season in Toronto, to international tours, award-winning recordings, innovative collaborations, and inspiring education programs, Tafelmusik is a musical powerhouse with a reputation for thrilling and delighting audiences. www.tafelmusik.org
Website: tafelmusik.org
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Season Presenting Sponsor for the 2025-26 concert season
Tafelmusik gratefully acknowledges the support of BMO, Presenting Sponsor of the 2025/26 concert season, as well as support from the Azrieli Foundation, Brookfield, Power Corporation of Canada, and RBC. We are also grateful to our government partners Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, and the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
For interviews, media access, or high-resolution images, please contact:
DMPUBLIC
Deanne Moser
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