With the arrival of summer, Tafelmusik’s latest chapter—A Season to Savour—has come to an end. In 2024/25, Tafelmusik invited connoisseurs and neophytes alike to savour an exhilarating season planned by Artistic Co-Directors Brandon Chui, Dominic Teresi, and Cristina Zacharias. On offer were ten mainstage programs in the heart of Toronto, an international tour, film and audio recordings, and an array of education and community outreach concerts.
It’s been a year of important and exciting milestones, including the inaugural season of violinist Rachel Podger as Principal Guest Director, the release of Haydn Symphonies 43 & 49— our first album under Podger’s direction—and our first tour to Korea since 2016.
Over the course of the season, several sold-out houses made it clear that Tafelmusik’s memorable and moving concert experiences continue to resonate deeply with audiences. Our trend-spotters also noted that Tafelmusik’s Saturday evening concerts are quickly becoming a favourite Toronto date-night ticket!
Of course, none of this would be possible without the support of our devoted subscribers, donors, and corporate supporters. We are extremely grateful for the support of BMO, our Season Presenting Sponsor for a fourth consecutive season. We also deeply appreciate the support of the Azrieli Foundation, Brookfield, and Power Corporation of Canada, along with the support of our government partners Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, and the Province of Ontario.
Rapturous Rachel Podger
The renowned violinist Rachel Podger launched her appointment as Tafelmusik’s Principal Guest Director in September with Mozart Jupiter at Koerner Hall. Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 in C Major was paired with the incidental music for Thamos, King of Egypt — a season kickoff that garnered glowing reviews. Critics noted the special chemistry between Podger and Tafelmusik, who “breathed and spoke through the score, and gave themselves, and us, the space to be human” (Ludwig van Toronto). “It felt brand new, refreshingly direct, simple” (Barcza Blog).
In late January, Podger and the orchestra celebrated Korean New Year and the success of Tafelmusik’s fall tour to South Korea with a program called Brilliant Baroque. Featuring music by quintessentially baroque composers, the program also included a new arrangement of the beloved South Korean folk song Arirang by Junghyun Kim and a stunning performance by traditional Korean drum dancer Jihyun Back, whose appearance was supported by the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Toronto.
Podger wrapped up her inaugural Tafelmusik season with Concerti Virtuosi, shining the spotlight on members of the orchestra who were featured in concertos by Telemann, Vivaldi, Corelli, and Brescianello. Concerti Virtuosi was also presented to an enthusiastic audience at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts in Kingston. We extend a special thank you to Margaret Catto for her generous support of Rachel Podger’s appearances this season.
New Haydn Symphonies Recording
Tafelmusik drew rave reviews for Haydn Symphonies 43 & 49: Mercury & La Passione, the orchestra’s first recording with Rachel Podger. Released on October 11, 2024, the album was recorded at Jeanne Lamon Hall and features two dynamic and contrasting symphonies. “Successful renditions of such works are dependent in great part upon the musicians’ wholehearted embrace of the elements … and that is what Rachel Podger and Tafelmusik achieve, in masterful and triumphant fashion. The razor-sharp ensemble documented in these live recordings is impressive and gratifying throughout” (Early Music America).
South Korea Tour
Rachel Podger led Tafelmusik on its South Korea tour in late October and early November, performing six sold-out concerts in five different cities. The performances took place under the auspices of the prestigious Eagon Concert held annually in South Korea as part of Seoul’s annual Arirang Festival. Tafelmusik’s Korea tour was generously supported by Brookfield, the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Ontario Arts Council.
Inspiring Guest Artists
Superb guest artists from all over the world joined us at our mainstage spaces at Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, and Koerner Hall.
French violinist Amandine Beyer returned in October as guest director and soloist for Feast for the Senses: Lalande & Rameau. Serving up a musical menu with a predominantly French flavour, Beyer and the orchestra invited audiences to savour sumptuous music by Lalande, Rameau, Muffat, and Jacquet de la Guerre.
Arguably the leading baroque oboist of our time, the effervescent Italian guest director and soloist Alfredo Bernardini dazzled in Triple Espresso: Bach, Handel & Fasch. This high-octane program devoted to the music of Bach and his contemporaries showcased works with striking orchestral textures. Alfredo Bernardini’s concerts were supported by Istituto Italiano di Cultura a Toronto.
In his Tafelmusik debut, the Slovakian violinist and guest director Miloš Valent energized Jeanne Lamon Hall with Baroque & Folk, a program where “everything seemed newborn, organic, alive.” (Barcza Blog). Audiences cheered Valent’s dynamic exploration of two seemingly contrasting traditions featuring the astonishing multi-instrumental virtuoso Jan Rokyta on cimbalom and folk recorders and percussion virtuosa Naghmeh Farahmand.
The extraordinary male soprano star Samuel Mariño brought our 2024/25 mainstage season to a glittering close at Koerner Hall. Directed by Julia Wedman, Samuel Mariño at the Opera: Bologne & Mozart featured music by well-known composers alongside buried treasures by composers Marianna Martines and Maria Antonia Walpurgis. Mariño’s artistry and capacity to connect deeply with audiences was rewarded with critical acclaim and several standing ovations from cheering crowds. “Beyond his brilliant singing, Mariño showed his whole self as an artist; the confidence and joy of his freedom, to sing, and to be who he wishes to be, away from the social conventions and expectations, is beautiful to witness” (Ludwig van Toronto). We extend special thanks to Christopher and Colleen Paige for their support of Samuel Mariño.
Tafelmusik Chamber Choir
Under the direction of celebrated Choir Director Ivars Taurins, the superb Tafelmusik Chamber Choir joined the orchestra in ushering in the holiday season with Bach’s joyous Christmas Oratorio featuring outstanding vocal soloists Hélène Brunet, soprano; Cecilia Duarte, mezzo-soprano; tenor Charles Daniels; and Jesse Blumberg, baritone.
The holiday theme continued with performances of Handel’s Messiah at Koerner Hall and our highly anticipated return to Massey Hall for the first time since 2017 for Sing-Along Messiah, directed by none other than Mr. Handel himself. Our dazzling cast of Messiah soloists featured soprano Myriam Leblanc; mezzo-soprano Krisztina Szabó; tenor Jacob Perry; and bass-baritone Philippe Sly, along with Tyler Duncan, who stepped in for Sly for two performances.
In late March, Myriam Leblanc returned to join the choir for Choral Splendours: Bach & Zelenka. Celebrating the friendship and admiration between the two composers, the program paired a selection of lesser-known, intimate gems from Bach’s Lutheran cantatas with Missa Sanctissimae Trinitatis by Zelenka.
Our final choral offering for the season, Motets: Bach as Muse, was a tapestry of choral colours and textures featuring works by Bach and motets by Homilius, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Rheinberger, and Reger. Woven between the choral selections were movements from Bach’s suites for solo cello performed by Tafelmusik’s Michael Unterman.
Digital Series Pass
Tafelmusik’s Digital Series Pass returned in 2024/25, offering on-demand access to in-depth lectures, pre-concert chats with artists, and three full-length digital Tafelmusik concerts: Staircases created by Alison Mackay,directed by Julia Wedman, and featuring narrator, composer, and bass-baritone soloist Jonathan Woody; Brilliant Baroque with Principal Guest Director and violin soloist Rachel Podger; and Triple Espresso with guest director and oboe soloist Alfredo Bernardini.
Education Concerts
In April, Tafelmusik was delighted to offer education concerts to 1200 students from Toronto schools. Curated by Alison Mackay, Bach and His World transported the audience 300 years into the past to learn about music-making through the eyes of two of Bach’s children, Johanna and Johann Christoph. Narrated by Canadian actor Blair Williams, the program featured projected images and videos that amplified the story-telling, along with interactive music-making that invited the students to sing a Bach tune with the orchestra.
Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute and Festival
Throughout the month of June, Tafelmusik animated the city with four free concerts in three different venues as part of the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Festival. The performances were presented in conjunction with the 23rd annual Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute (TBSI), a top-tier international training program led by Tafelmusik musicians and distinguished guests.
Community collaborations
Over the course of the 2024/25 Season, Tafelmusik invited new audiences to join the conversation through community collaborations offering a wide range of concerts in various venues. Programs featuring different types of repertoire and experiences included three Sunday afternoon concerts at the Toronto Botanical Garden, and a return to the McMichael Canadian Art Collection as part of the gallery’s Chamber Music Series.
We were also delighted to continue our long-standing partnership with Opera Atelier this season for two magnificent productions: Handel’s Acis & Galatea, directed by Christopher Bagan, and the Toronto premiere of Charpentier’s David & Jonathan, directed by David Fallis.
Welcoming new orchestra members
We are thrilled to welcome Daniel Ramírez and Yussif Barakat, Tafelmusik’s first core musicians with Latin American roots. They will join the orchestra in September 2025.
Born in Mexico City, Daniel Ramírez is a specialist in period oboes. In 2008, he left his post with the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra and moved to Barcelona to specialize in historical oboes. He continued his studies at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, where he completed a master’s degree under Alfredo Bernardini. Daniel has collaborated with internationally acclaimed ensembles, including Concerto Copenhagen, Orquestra Barroca Catalana, Wrocław Baroque Orchestra, La Tempestad, Ensemble Zefiro, Il Pomo d’Oro, and Holland Baroque, among others. Since 2022, he has been a member of Pérgamo Ensemble.
Recently based in The Hague, Ecuadorian-Palestinian double bassist Yussif Barakat credits an encounter with violinist Marc Destrubé (an early member of Tafelmusik) with his introduction to historical performance practice. In 2019 Yussif received his double Master of Music degrees in double bass and violone from the Royal Conservatoire, Den Haag. He has performed with the Netherlands Bach Society, Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, Le Concert des Nations, Dunedin Consort, and La Petit Bande, among others. Yussif is also an accomplished jazz musician.
As summer unfolds over the coming weeks, we’ll be thinking ahead to a fresh start in September. Our 2025/26 Season is packed with treasures, including three dynamic programs directed by Rachel Podger, choral music offerings by Bach, Handel, and Lotti, a new all-Handel recording from the Tafelmusik Orchestra and Choir, and performances by thrilling guest artists like soprano Amanda Forsythe, and violinists and guest directors Lina Tur Bonet, Robert Mealy, and Shunske Sato. And thanks to overwhelming demand, we’re delighted to re-introduce Thursday night concerts for the first time since 2020. Stay tuned for a season that combines timeless masterworks and rarely heard gems, all performed with Tafelmusik’s signature artistry. Our heartfelt thanks to Tafelmusik’s devoted subscribers for their commitment to supporting live music. We can’t wait to share passion and beauty with every note!