Highlights include:
Mozart & Schubert season launch with
Rachel Podger, Principal Guest Director
Rameau & the Art of Dance: Tafelmusik meets Juilliard
A Bach Celebration with Tafelmusik Chamber Choir
Hearing Her Voice with Amanda Forsythe, soprano, featuring
new commission by Karen Sunabacka
Shunske Sato’s Tafelmusik debut directing Beethoven & Bologne
New recording: A Handel Celebration
Toronto, February 12, 2025 … Today Tafelmusik unveiled the details of its 2025/26 season, where passion and beauty infuse every note. British violin sensation Rachel Podger returns for her second season in the role of Principal Guest Director, leading three concert programs and Tafelmusik’s 2025 Western Canada tour. Tafelmusik’s richly deserved reputation as a “razor sharp ensemble” (Early Music America) known for innovative, memorable concert experiences informs its 2025/26 Season, curated by Artistic Co-Directors Brandon Chui, Dominic Teresi, and Cristina Zacharias. Detailed information and high-resolution images are available on Tafelmusik’s website. Unless otherwise noted, all concerts take place at Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre. Subscription packages are now available at tafelmusik.org.
Buoyed by a series of critically acclaimed artistic triumphs—here at home, on the road, and with its 2024 Haydn Symphonies recording directed by Rachel Podger—Tafelmusik welcomes an array of world-renowned guest artists who join the orchestra and choir at their mainstage spaces at Jeanne Lamon Hall and Koerner Hall. Thanks to overwhelming demand leading to several sold-out concerts this season, in 2025/26 Tafelmusik will re-introduce Thursday night concerts for the first time since 2020, in addition to the existing Friday and Saturday evening concerts and Sunday matinées.
“Energized by the successes of the last year, our 47th season is filled to the brim with timeless masterworks and rarely heard gems, performed on period instruments with fearless passion,” says Cristina Zacharias, on behalf of Tafelmusik’s Artistic Co-Directors. “Join us to be entranced, invigorated and delighted through the human connection only music can inspire.”
“The 2025/26 Season is part of our bold vision to share the unique joy of Tafelmusik with audiences here in Toronto and across the globe, thanks to our live and digital concerts, tours, and recordings,” says Glenn Hodgins, Executive Director. “We are filled with gratitude for the generosity of our donors and the support of subscribers, without whom Tafelmusik’s success would not be possible.”
Rachel Podger, Principal Guest Director
“The rapport between Tafelmusik and Podger…is palpable, infectious.” (barczablog)
Following her inaugural season as Principal Guest Director, Tafelmusik is excited to welcome back the “exquisite” (Washington Classical Review) British violinist Rachel Podger for three mainstage programs in 2025/26. Podger will also lead Tafelmusik’s Western Canada tour in November 2025.
Directing from the violin in “masterful and triumphant fashion” (Early Music America), Podger helms Tafelmusik’s season opener, Mozart 40 & Schubert 5 on Sept 26, 27 & 28, 2025 at Koerner Hall. On Jan 29, 30, 31, and Feb 1, 2026, she directs a selection of Bach’s universally adored Brandenburg Concertos, along with the premiere of a new orchestral arrangement of Bach’s remarkable organ Prelude and Fugue in E-Flat Major, “St. Anne.” In her final program of the 2025/26 season, Podger leads the orchestra in Influencers: The Bachs, Mozart & Haydn, an exploration of the dynamic synergies between composers (Apr 9, 2026 at George Weston Recital Hall; Apr 10, 11 & 12, 2026 at Jeanne Lamon Hall).
“Podger and Tafelmusik breathed and spoke through the score, and gave themselves, and us, the space to be human … And we were energized.” (Ludwig van Toronto)
More 2025/26 Season Highlights
VIVALDI’S WORLD
Directed by Lina Tur Bonet, violin
Oct 23, 24, 25, 26, 2025
No one who attended Spanish violinist Lina Tur Bonet’s Tafelmusik debut in 2024 could possibly forget her intense rapport with the orchestra and her “almost punk rigour” (South German Radio)—a perfect match for this program featuring Vivaldi’s Il Grosso Mogul concerto along with Geminiani’s high octane showpiece, La Folia, and other works by Zelenka and Albicastro. Following the Toronto concerts, Vivaldi’s World travels to Ottawa for a performance at the National Arts Centre’s Southam Hall on Oct 27, 2025.
DOUBLE DIXIT: Lotti & Handel
Directed by Ivars Taurins
Nov 28, 29, 30, 2025
Tafelmusik Chamber Choir joins the orchestra for a program exploring settings of the Latin text for Psalm 110 by Lotti and Handel, curated by Choir Director Ivars Taurins. The Venetian Antonio Lotti was admired for the expressive contrasts and fluid vocal lines in his music, which influenced the young Handel when he arrived in Italy, inspiring him to unleash his creative vigour in his dramatic setting of Dixit Dominus.
HANDEL MESSIAH
Directed by Ivars Taurins
Dec 18, 19, & 20, 2025 at Koerner Hall
Tafelmusik’s performances of Handel’s Messiah are beautifully rendered in the style and spirit of Handel’s own productions. The sensational cast of soloists includes soprano Stephanie True; mezzo-soprano Krisztina Szabó; tenor Nicholas Scott; and bass-baritone Jonathan Woody.
SING-ALONG MESSIAH
Directed by Mr. Handel
Dec 21, 2025 at Massey Hall
Messiah’s stirring choruses get the surround-sound treatment with a massive audience joining the choir, orchestra, and guest soloists—all under the spirited direction of Mr. Handel himself.
RAMEAU & THE ART OF DANCE: Tafelmusik meets Juilliard
Directed by Robert Mealy, violin
Choreographed by Caroline Copeland
Feb 19, 20, 21, 22, 2026
Leaping into the splendour of French baroque dance music, period ensemble Juilliard415 joins Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra in a pas de deux that bridges generations of historically informed expertise. Robert Mealy, violinist and head of Juilliard’s distinguished Historical Performance program, leads this program of music by Marais, Rebel, and Rameau, brought to life through choreographies by renowned baroque dancer Caroline Copeland.
A BACH CELEBRATION
Directed by Ivars Taurins
Mar 12, 13, 14, 15, 2026
J.S. Bach wrote more than 200 astonishing cantatas in his lifetime and Choir Director Ivars Taurins has combed through them to hand-pick hidden gems. Tafelmusik’s Bach celebration magnifies the composer’s genius, creating a gallery of aural contrasts. Joining the orchestra and choir are two vocal soloists known for their exquisite Bach interpretations: soprano Myriam Leblanc and Grammy Award–winning tenor James Reese.
HEARING HER VOICE
Amanda Forsythe, soprano
Apr 30, May 1, 2, & 3, 2026
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra
The “jaw-dropping” (Boston Classical Review) soprano Amanda Forsythe gives voice to the powerful stories of distinctive female characters from baroque operas and cantatas by Handel, Pergolesi, Élisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre, and others. Tafelmusik trains the spotlight on music by baroque female composers and extends it into the 21st century with a newly commissioned work by Métis composer Karen Sunabacka.
BEETHOVEN & BOLOGNE: The Winds of Change
Directed by Shunske Sato, violin
May 29, 30, & 31, 2026 at Koerner Hall
The French Revolution was a pivotal moment for artists, philosophers, and composers who were inspired by the movement’s ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Tafelmusik’s season finale salutes this uplifting spirit with music by composers who embraced change and challenged the status quo.
Renowned Japanese-American violinist Shunske Sato makes his Tafelmusik debut leading Beethoven’s revolutionary Symphony no. 3 “Eroica” from the violin. Sato is also featured in the stunning Violin Concerto op. 3, no. 2 by the influential Black 18th-century composer Joseph Bologne.
Beyond the Mainstage
Touring and Recording
On Oct 27, 2025, Lina Tur Bonet directs Tafelmusik in a performance of Vivaldi’s World at the National Arts Centre’s Southam Hall, Ottawa, following the Toronto mainstage run.
From Nov 3–23, 2025, Rachel Podger leads Tafelmusik’s Western Canada Tour, which includes engagements in British Columbia, and Alberta. This is Podger’s second tour with Tafelmusik, following a sold-out 2024 South Korea tour. A new recording on the Tafelmusik Media label is slated for release in late 2025. Recorded live in concert at Koerner Hall in 2024, A Handel Celebration is a salute to one of the greatest musical dramatists of all time. Guest soloists Amanda Forsythe, soprano, and Thomas Hobbs, tenor, join Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir directed by Ivars Taurins.
Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute: June 7–20, 2026
Tafelmusik is dedicated to developing the next generation of local, national, and international period performers through the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute (TBSI). Taking place at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto, TBSI is an intensive training program for advanced students and professional musicians in instrumental and vocal baroque performance practice. TBSI’s faculty, drawn from members of Tafelmusik and invited guests, share their individual expertise as well as an extensive communal experience of making music. TBSI has welcomed participants from 65 different countries, and its emphasis on the full participation of all who attend, in a collaborative environment that mirrors the structure of the organization, is internationally renowned.
Opera Atelier
Tafelmusik is thrilled to continue its collaboration with Opera Atelier, joining the company for Mozart’s The Magic Flute (Oct 15, 16, 18 & 19, 2025 at the Elgin Theatre) and a new production of Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande (Apr 15, 16, 18 & 19, 2026 at Koerner Hall)—marking a repertoire first for both Tafelmusik and Opera Atelier. Tafelmusik performs under the baton of Opera Atelier Music Director, David Fallis.
Audience engagement, community outreach, and education
Tafelmusik continues to offer ongoing community outreach and education programs for music lovers of all ages. These include free pre-concert chats for Tafelmusik audience members, free Education Concerts, and free or low-cost performances for the community in partnership with various organizations. On tour, Tafelmusik animates communities with live performances, education, and artist training, opening doors for continued exploration long after the applause has ended.
Digital Series Pass
Returning in 2025/26, Tafelmusik’s Digital Series Pass includes on-demand access to three full-length digital Tafelmusik concerts: Concerti Virtuosi and Bach Brandenburgs! with Rachel Podger, and Vivaldi’s World with Lina Tur Bonet. The Digital Series Pass is complimentary with all live-concert subscriptions and includes an array of films from the Tafelmusik vault, in-depth lectures, pre-concert chats with artists, and other educational content.
Tafelmusik gratefully acknowledges the support of BMO, Presenting Sponsor of the 2024/25 concert season, as well as support from 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.
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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Media contact:
Luisa Trisi, Big Picture Communications
luisa@luisatrisi.com | 427 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 1X7