This year’s expanded Stratford Summer Music festival includes the local début of Toronto’s Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra on Saturday and Sunday at St Andrew’s Church.
There are two separate programmes of vocal and instrumental pieces by J.S. Bach, in keeping with the festival’s commemoration of Glenn Gould’s 80th birthday. Gould was a regular visitor to the festival’s original incarnation five decades ago, and, of course, the link to Bach came along with that.
Tafelmusik music director Jeanne Lamon is in charge of a 10-member instrumental contingent both days.
On Saturday, baritone Tyler Duncan sings arias from two cantatas, while the orchestra presents, among other things, two favourite compositions: the Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C, BWV 1066 and the Concerto for Two Violins in D, BWV 1043, featuring Lamon and Julia Wedman as the soloists.
On Sunday, the spotlight is on three chestnuts for solo voice, with Canadian star countertenor Daniel Taylor singing Cantatas 54 (Widerstehe doch der Sünde) and 170 (Vergnügte Ruh), and Duncan performing Cantata 82 (Ich habe genug). The orchestra also plays the Suite No. 3 in D (BWV 1068).
Tafelmusik and Taylor released a recording of Cantatas 54 and 170 on the Analekta label last year. The Juno-nominated disc was notable for the rich colouring of the orchestra and Taylor’s trademark soulful singing. (You can check out audio samples from the album here.)
The Saturday concert starts at 11:15 a.m., and tickets are a bargain-priced $35. Sunday’s $50 concert is at 2 p.m.
For more details, and tickets, click here.
John Terauds