“Tafelmusik Chamber Choir was superb. It was hard to believe that just twenty-two singers could make such an impressive sound … They negotiated the technically demanding music effortlessly. Taurins elicited an energetic and joyful performance.”
— Toronto Concert Reviews
Toronto, April 15, 2019 … Tafelmusik’s 40th anniversary season culminates in May with exuberant music by J.S. Bach and Jan Dismas Zelenka, two composers long championed by Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir. Bach’s cherished Magnificat is paired with the Toronto premiere of Missa Divi Xaverii by his Czech contemporary, Jan Dismas Zelenka. Chamber Choir Director Ivars Taurins presides over this very special end to a celebratory season with guest soloists Jana Miller, soprano; Meg Bragle, mezzo-soprano; and Colin Ainsworth, tenor. The concerts take place May 9 to 12, 2019 at Koerner Hall, TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning. Complete program details are available at tafelmusik.org.
“It’s no coincidence that the final program of Tafelmusik’s celebratory 40th anniversary season features works by Bach and Zelenka — two composers dear to the hearts of the choir and orchestra, and our audience! The music of these composers embodies the dynamic, engaging, and soulful qualities that never fail to inspire us. It’s also our delight to present Zelenka's brilliant Missa Divi Xaverii to Toronto audiences for the first time,” said Ivars Taurins.
Tafelmusik has performed the inventive, daring music of Zelenka since its very first season in 1978/79. The choir and orchestra’s debut performances of Missa Divi Xaverii, a major work by this composer, make for an especially fitting conclusion to Tafelmusik’s 40th anniversary season. The mass setting is scored for choir, soloists and orchestra augmented with flutes, four trumpets, and timpani. First performed in 1729, the Missa has been described as “one of his most dazzling and joyful compositions” by Czech conductor and Zelenka specialist Václav Luks.
The exuberant Magnificat was among the first of Bach’s large choral works. Composed in 1723 during the composer’s first year at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, this setting of Mary’s hymn from the Gospel of St. Luke already demonstrates Bach’s astonishing expressive ability to convey the meaning of the Latin text through music.
BMO Financial Group is the Presenting Sponsor for Bach Magnificat. Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP is a Concert Sponsor.
Audience members are invited to join Tafelmusik Chamber Choir member Kate Helsen for a free pre-concert chat one hour before each performance.
LISTING INFORMATION
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir presents
BachMagnificat and Zelenka Missa Divi Xaverii
Directed by Ivars Taurins
Jana Miller, soprano
Meg Bragle, mezzo-soprano
Colin Ainsworth, tenor
Keith Lam, baritone
Thu May 9, Fri May 10, Sat May 11, 2019 at 8pm, Sun May 12 at 3:30pm
Koerner Hall, TELUS Centre, 273 Bloor Street West
Regular: From $38 | 65+: From $38 | Youth (18 and under): $30 |Tafelscene (19-35 yrs)- $30: only available through Tafelscene email list sign-up
Koerner Hall Box Office: (416) 408-0208
ABOUT TAFELMUSIK
Led by Music Director Elisa Citterio, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra is one of the world’s leading period ensembles and Canada’s most-toured orchestra. Tafelmusik engages Toronto audiences with an annual season of more than 80 concerts in diverse venues across the city, as well as national and international audiences through an extensive schedule of tours and critically acclaimed recordings. The Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, under the direction of Ivars Taurins, was formed in 1981 to complement the Orchestra. Tafelmusik also seeks to transport audiences to the baroque and classical periods through adventurous cross-cultural collaborations, on stage with Toronto's Opera Atelier, and underground at its Haus Musik series. The orchestra’s musicians share their knowledge and experience through artist training initiatives such as the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer and Winter Institutes. Tafelmusik's catalogue of award-winning recordings on the SONY, CBC Records, Analekta, and Tafelmusik Media labels have garnered ten JUNO Awards and numerous other recording prizes. Jeanne Lamon continues her association with Tafelmusik as Music Director Emerita.
2018/19 SEASON PARTNERS
Tafelmusik wishes to thank the following for their generous support: BMO Financial Group, TD Bank Group, RBC Foundation, Hal Jackman Foundation, KPMG, Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life, Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation, Whitmer Trudel Charitable Foundation, The Estate of Lawrence Ballon, Tom Bogart & Kathy Tamaki, The Pluralism Fund, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, Classical 96.3 FM, NOW Magazine, and Wholenote Magazine. Tafelmusik is a proud partner of the Bloor St. Culture Corridor.
Website: tafelmusik.org
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Media contact: Luisa Trisi, Big Picture Communications, (416) 456-0499
ltrisi@sympatico.ca| 427 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 1X7