Mar 7, 8 & 9, 2025, Jeanne Lamon Hall
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra
Directed by Miloš Valent
with Jan Rokyta, multi-instrumentalist, and Naghmeh Farahmand, percussionist
February 14, 2025 …. The Slovakian violinist Miloš Valent makes his Tafelmusik debut with Baroque & Folk, a vibrant exploration of the connections between two contrasting traditions, featuring multi-instrumental virtuoso Jan Rokyta, and percussionist Naghmeh Farahmand. Cross-cultural pollination yields a rich harvest that is guaranteed to get toes tapping as the sounds of Tafelmusik’s baroque strings, winds, and continuo intermingle with the sonorities of the cimbalom, folk recorders, and percussion. Concerts take place on March 7 & 8 at 8 PM and March 9 at 3 PM and tickets are available at tafelmusik.org.
Renowned for his deep curiosity about the intersections between baroque and folk music traditions, Valent joins percussionist Naghmeh Farahmand and virtuoso Jan Rokyta, who performs on a variety of instruments including cimbalom, clarinet, duduk, and recorder. Together with the orchestra, they explore the ways in which baroque composers such as Telemann, Purcell, and Vivaldi were influenced by folk music from the Ashkenazi, Polish, Hungarian, Roma, Scottish, and Turkish traditions.
Valent believes that “music is the unique and universal language of humankind, and music-making is enriched as it reaches beyond tribe and clan. When musicians meet at the crossroads, unexpected new creativity is unleashed, rewarding not only the performers, but those who listen and partake.”
Telemann himself was deeply inspired by the folk traditions he encountered during his travels, writing “If you wanted to write down all that was played, after a week you would have enough musical ideas for the rest of your life.”
“Tafelmusik’s musicians and audience love to make connections across cultures and traditions. The fascinating musicians joining us for Baroque & Folk promise to enrich and broaden our understanding of the spectrum of Baroque musical traditions. Milos Valent’s energizing and unique style promises to enchant us all,” says Cristina Zacharias, Tafelmusik’s Artistic Co-Director.
LISTING INFORMATION:
Tafelmusik presents Baroque & Folk
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra
Directed by Miloš Valent, violin
with Jan Rokyta, multi-instrumentalist, and Naghmeh Farahmand, percussionist
March 7 & 8 at 8 PM and March 9 at 3 PM
Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre
Tickets start at $20 and are available at tafelmusik.org.
Tafelmusik gratefully acknowledges the support of BMO, Presenting Sponsor of the 2024/25 concert season, as well as support from the Azrieli Foundation, Brookfield, RBC, and Power Corporation of Canada. 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 guest artist bios, visit: tafelmusik.org
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 Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir 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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Media contact:
Luisa Trisi, Big Picture Communications
luisa@luisatrisi.com | 427 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 1X7