TAFELMUSIK PRESENTS ABENDMUSIK: FROM BUXTEHUDE TO BACH IN A SPECIAL ONE-NIGHT PERFORMANCE
Ivars Taurins leads an intimate program tracing the musical lineage inspired by two baroque masters, May 15 at Jeanne Lamon Hall
Toronto, ON (April 15, 2026) — Tafelmusik invites audiences to experience a very special evening of musical exploration with Abendmusik: From Buxtehude to Bach, a one-night-only performance on May 15 at Jeanne Lamon Hall.
Inspired by Johann Sebastian Bach’s legendary 1705 journey, walking more than 400 kilometres from Arnstadt to Lübeck to meet and learn from the legendary Dietrich Buxtehude, the program recreates the spirit of Buxtehude’s famed Abendmusiken, or “Evening Concerts,” an innovative concert series that combined choral and instrumental chamber music, and which sparked the young Bach’s musical imagination.
Led by Tafelmusik Choir Director Ivars Taurins, this intimate concert showcases the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir and members of the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra in a vivid exploration of influence, mentorship, and musical exchange in the baroque era.
“Bach’s journey to Lübeck to visit Buxtehude was formative,” says Ivars Taurins. “This program invites audiences to step into that moment of discovery to hear music that inspired Bach. The journey continues as Bach’s students and contemporaries take up the torch, melding tradition with creativity.”
In the spirit of Buxtehude’s legendary concerts, the program culminates in settings of the hymn tune text of the German poet Johann Franck’s “Jesu, meine Freude” (Jesu, my joy), each composer adding their own imagination and individuality to words made famous by Bach’s own masterful setting.
Performed in the intimate setting of Jeanne Lamon Hall, Abendmusik offers a transportive concert experience rooted in history yet resonant for contemporary audiences, where this timeless music comes together in a powerful expression of devotion, creativity, and connection across generations.
Program Details
- Abendmusik: From Buxtehude to Bach
- Tafelmusik Chamber Choir & members of Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra
- Music by Buxtehude, Reincken, J.Ch. Bach, Krebs, Graupner, Doles and J.S. Bach
- Directed by Ivars Taurins
Date & Venue
- May 15, 2026 at 8:00pm – Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, Toronto
Tickets
Tickets are now on sale. $45 each.
$20 tickets are available for Tafelscene members aged 35 and under. Box Office: (416) 964-6337 | info@tafelmusik.org
Tickets available at tafelmusik.org
Running Time
60 minutes, no intermission
Style of Music
Choral
Media Images, please visit 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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Sponsors:
Season Presenting Sponsor: BMO
Season Partners: Azrieli Foundation and Power Corporation of Canada
Government sponsors:
Government of Canada
Canada Council for the Arts
Ontario Arts Foundation
Ontario Arts Council
Province of Ontario
For interviews, media access, or high-resolution images, please contact:
DMPUBLIC
Deanne Moser
deanne@dmpublic.com
+1- 647-888-9388