TAFELMUSIK’S ONLY NORTH YORK PERFORMANCE THIS SEASON
“Queen of the Baroque Violin” Rachel Podger leads a musical journey from Bach to Mozart
and Haydn — April 9 at George Weston Recital Hall, with additional Toronto performances
April 10–12 at Jeanne Lamon Hall
Toronto, ON (March 19, 2026) —Tafelmusik returns to North York for its only appearance of the season with Influencers: The Bachs, Mozart & Haydn on April 9 at George Weston Recital Hall. The program continues April 10–12 at Jeanne Lamon Hall at Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre and traces the musical connections between the Bach family and the composers they inspired.
Long before social media (or Timothée Chalamet), classical music had its own generation of influencers. In the 18th century, the Bach family shaped musical taste across Europe, inspiring a new wave of composers and redefining what orchestral music could sound like.
“In the 18th century, musical ideas travelled the way trends do today, from composer to composer, city to city,” says Cristina Zacharias, Artistic Co-Director of Tafelmusik. “This program shows how the Bach family influenced an entire generation of composers, including Mozart and Haydn. It’s like hearing the musical family tree come to life.”
In this celebration led by “Queen of the Baroque Violin” (Sunday Times) and Principal Guest Director Rachel Podger, Tafelmusik showcases the lasting musical connections between the Bachs, Mozart, and Haydn, composers who revered one another.
“I’m thrilled to return to Tafelmusik for a fantastic program featuring influential concertos and symphonies that are full of drama, exhilaration, poignancy, and simply stunning beauty,” says Rachel Podger, Tafelmusik’s Principal Guest Director. “It is a dream to perform this music with the elite players of Tafelmusik.”
Continuing her cycle of Mozart violin concerto performances with Tafelmusik, Podger is a featured soloist in Mozart’s dazzling and joy-filled Violin Concerto no. 3, while Tafelmusik cellist Keiran Campbell takes the spotlight in C.P.E. Bach’s showstopping Cello Concerto in A Major.
The concert opens with J.C. Bach’s dramatic Sinfonia in G Minor and concludes with Haydn’s spectacular Symphony no. 52, showcasing Tafelmusik’s signature sound on period instruments, fresh off the heels of Podger and Tafelmusik’s recent JUNO-nominated recording of Haydn symphonies. Like Haydn and Mozart did themselves, Podger leads these performances as a player, from the violin.
Concert Details
Influencers: The Bachs, Mozart & Haydn
Tafelmusik Orchestra, on period instruments
Principal Guest Director Rachel Podger and violin soloist
Featuring Keiran Campbell, cello soloist
Dates & Venues
- April 9, 2026, 7:30 pm — George Weston Recital Hall, North York
- April 10–11, 2026, 8 pm — Jeanne Lamon Hall at Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, Toronto
- April 12, 2026, 3 pm — Jeanne Lamon Hall at Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, Toronto
Program
- J.C. Bach — Sinfonia in G Minor
- Mozart — Violin Concerto no. 3 (Rachel Podger, soloist)
- C.P.E. Bach — Cello Concerto in A Major (Keiran Campbell, soloist)
- Haydn — Symphony no. 52
Tickets
Tickets are now on sale. $20 tickets are available for Tafelscene members aged 35 and
under. Box Office: (416) 964-6337 | info@tafelmusik.org
Tickets available at tafelmusik.org and Ticketmaster for the April 9 performance.
Running Time
120 minutes
Style of Music
Classical orchestral
Video samples:
Haydn Symphony 49 “La Passione”: Allegro di molto | Rachel Podger | Tafelmusik
Rachel Podger’s Cadenza in Mozart’s Violin Concerto no. 1 with Tafelmusik
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
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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Tafelmusik gratefully acknowledges the support of BMO, Presenting Sponsor of the 2025/26 concert season, as well as support from the Azrieli Foundation and Power Corporation of Canada. We are also grateful to our government partners Government of Canada, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, and Toronto Arts Council. Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute is generously supported by Lynn & James Haight, an Anonymous donor, and the McLean Foundation. A special thank you to Jane Witherspoon and Brian Stewart for supporting Tafelmusik’s return to the George Weston Recital Hall.
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