Tafelmusik will kick off its 2025/26 season with the return of Principal Guest Director Rachel Podger and a program of Mozart and Schubert. The ensemble takes the stage September 26 to 28 in Koerner Hall to perform Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 along with Schubert’s Symphony No. 5.
Two new core members join Tafelmusik, with their first performances in their roles at the season opener: bassist Jussif Barakat Martínez (Ecuador/Palestine) and oboist Daniel Ramírez Escudero (Mexico).
“Mozart and Schubert offer us the full emotional range of the Classical era, elegance, tension, and sheer delight,” says Podger in a statement. “It’s an honour to begin the season with these works alongside the brilliant musicians of Tafelmusik.”
Rachel Podger
Podger’s first season as Principal Guest Director in 2024/25 won high praise from critics and audiences alike.
British violinist Rachel Podger was the first woman to receive a string of honours, including the Royal Academy of Music/Kohn Foundation Bach Prize, named Gramophone Artist of the Year, and awarded BBC Music Magazine’s Recording of the Year for Tutta sola.
The Baroque specialist is the founder and Artistic Director of the Brecon Baroque Festival, and her recent recording with Tafelmusik, Haydn Symphonies no. 43 and 49, was acclaimed by critics. She holds academic positions in the UK and internationally, including at The Juilliard School.
Podger and Mozart have been closely linked in her artistic partnership with Tafelmusik. Mozart’s Symphony Symphony No. 40 in G Minor is noted for its drama and restless energy. It’s a firm cornerstone of the Classical canon, and contrasts with a young Schubert’s optimism. Schubert was just 19 years old, living in Vienna, when he wrote his Symphony No. 5 in B-flat Major.
New Members
“We are thrilled to welcome Jussif and Daniel to the Tafelmusik family,” says Dominic Teresi, Artistic Co-Director, Tafelmusik. “Their artistry and experience reflect our commitment to excellence and innovation, and we’re excited to share the stage with them this season and beyond.”
Tafelmusik welcomes two new core orchestra members that were selected following an extensive international audition process.
Jussif Barakat Martínez (Double Bass/Violone)
Of Palestinian heritage, Jussif Barakat Martínez grew up in Ecuador, and is today based in The Hague. His musical study and performance began with jazz, evolving to early music. He has performed internationally with ensembles such as the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, Le Concert des Nations, Dunedin Consort, and Collegium Vocale Gent. Jussif is a graduate of the Royal
Conservatoire in The Hague, and was awarded First Prize at the Viennese Bass Days in Amsterdam for historically informed performance.
Daniel Ramírez Escudero (Oboe)
Daniel Ramírez Escudero is a specialist in period oboes. He’s originally from Mexico City, and studied with Alfredo Bernardini and others. He is a passionate chamber musician, and a member of the Pérgamo Ensemble. He has performed internationally with ensembles such as Concerto Copenhagen, Il Pomo d’Oro, Holland Baroque, and Ensemble Zefiro.
- Find concert details and tickets [HERE].
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