Join the acclaimed Baroque orchestra and choir for a festive double feature: three nights of
Messiah at Koerner Hall followed by the city’s most joyous holiday sing-along at Massey Hall
Toronto, ON, (November 11, 2025) – This December, Tafelmusik once again invites
audiences to celebrate the season with two of Toronto’s most cherished musical traditions:
Handel’s Messiah at Koerner Hall (December 18–20) and the exuberant Sing-Along Messiah
at Massey Hall (December 21)
Directed by Ivars Taurins, Tafelmusik’s acclaimed interpretations of Handel’s masterpiece have
become an essential part of Toronto’s cultural calendar, uniting audiences in a spirit of joy,
reflection, and community.
Handel’s Messiah has captivated audiences for centuries with its drama, poignancy, and
enduring message of charity and goodwill. Presented in the style and spirit of the composer’s
own productions, Tafelmusik’s performances at Koerner Hall showcase the orchestra and choir
alongside an outstanding lineup of soloists: Stefanie True (soprano, Canada), Krisztina Szabó
(mezzo-soprano, Hungary–Canada), Nicholas Scott (tenor, UK), and Jonathan Woody
(bass-baritone, US). For True and Scott, these performances mark their Tafelmusik debuts;
Woody returns following his unforgettable 2024 performance in Alison Mackay’s Staircases.
The celebration continues with the city’s most joyful holiday tradition, Sing-Along Messiah at
Massey Hall, where 2,000 voices will join together under the baton of Mr. Handel himself in full
costume for a rousing, one-of-a-kind musical experience that brings Toronto together in song.
Grab your score (or just your holiday spirit) and join the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and
Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, soloists Stefanie True, Krisztina Szabó, Nicholas Scott, and
Jonathan Woody, and thousands of voices in a glorious sing-along that truly raises the roof.
These performances are a highlight of the holiday season, and they always sell out well in
advance.
“There is truly something extraordinary about Handel’s Messiah, and it therefore comes as no
surprise that people return to our performances of the work year after year,” says Ivars Taurins.
“The music is at once majestic and intimately heartfelt, resonating its message of peace and
goodwill. For many, it’s a cherished family tradition; for others, their first encounter with a
timeless musical masterpiece. Either way, it’s an experience that leaves a profound and lasting
impression. This has become a beloved Tafelmusik holiday tradition that simply cannot be
missed.”
“Tafelmusik’s annual Messiah performances are a touchstone for so many, a sublime and
meaningful way to launch into the holiday season,” says Cristina Zacharias, Artistic
Co-Director. “Handel’s masterpiece carries us through the full expanse of human emotion
through stunning arias, choruses and orchestral writing. Join us!”
Handel Messiah at Koerner Hall
Koerner Hall, TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning
273 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1V6
December 18, 2025 at 7:30 pm
December 19, 2025 at 7:30 pm
December 20, 2025 at 7:30 pm
Stefanie True, soprano
Krisztina Szabó, mezzo-soprano
Nicholas Scott, tenor
Jonathan Woody, bass-baritone
Tafelmusik Chamber Choir
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra
Directed by Ivars Taurins
Running Time: 3 hours
Style of Music: Baroque oratorio
Tickets are now on sale from $50 at tafelmusik.org. Tickets are in high demand. Book in
advance to avoid disappointment.
Limited number of $30 tickets available for Tafelscene members age 35 & under.
Single tickets: use the Royal Conservatory of Music box office at (416) 408-0208,
tickets@rcmusic.ca
Subscribers: Add this concert to your series package by contacting the Tafelmusik box
office at 1 (833) 964-6337 info@tafelmusik.org
Media Images, click HERE.
Sing-Along Messiah at Massey Hall
Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St, Toronto, ON M5B 1T7
Date: December 21, 2025 at 2pm
Stefanie True, soprano
Krisztina Szabó, mezzo-soprano
Nicholas Scott, tenor
Jonathan Woody, bass-baritone
Tafelmusik Chamber Choir
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra
Directed by Mr. Handel
Run time: 2.5 hours
Style of Music: Baroque oratorio
Tickets are now on sale from $59.70 at tafelmusik.org. Tickets are in high demand. Book in
advance to avoid disappointment.
Single tickets: Massey Hall box office (416) 872-4255, contactus@mh-rth.com
Media Images, click HERE.
The Perfect Holiday Gift: A Handel Celebration, Accessible Tickets & Subscriptions
This holiday season, Tafelmusik offers more than concerts, it offers gifts that last long after the
last note fades.
Tafelmusik is delighted to announce the release of a new recording, A Handel Celebration, on
November 21, 2025, available on CD and all major streaming platforms. The album is a radiant
salute to George Frideric Handel, one of music’s greatest dramatists, exploring the full spectrum
of emotion from joy to sorrow. Recorded live in concert, it features soprano Amanda Forsythe
and tenor Thomas Hobbs with the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Tafelmusik Chamber
Choir, directed by Ivars Taurins. CDs will be available at all Messiah performances.
For audiences aged 19–35, Tafelmusik’s Tafelscene program makes world-class performances
more accessible than ever. Joining Tafelscene is free, and members can purchase tickets to
most concerts for just $20 (plus fees) and enjoy a complimentary drink during intermission.
2025/26 Flex Subscriptions are still available! Choose 4 or more concerts to compose your Flex
package and enjoy priority seating, savings, flexible exchanges, and exclusive
behind-the-scenes content. Curate a Flex package for a friend as a perfect holiday gift!
Media Images, click HERE.
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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.
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 Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario
Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, and the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Tafelmusik Baroque
Summer Institute is generously supported by Lynn & James Haight, The Azrieli Foundation, and
the McLean Foundation.
For interviews, media access, or high-resolution images, please contact:
DMPUBLIC
Deanne Moser
deanne@dmpublic.com
+1-647-888-938