{"id":111999,"date":"2025-02-20T11:14:35","date_gmt":"2025-02-20T16:14:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=111999"},"modified":"2025-02-20T11:14:35","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T16:14:35","slug":"preview-tafelmusik-announces-2025-26-season-rachel-podger-principal-guest-director","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/02\/20\/preview-tafelmusik-announces-2025-26-season-rachel-podger-principal-guest-director\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | Tafelmusik Announces 2025\/26 Season With Rachel Podger As Principal Guest Director"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Violinist
Violinist and Principal Guest Director Rachel Podger with the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra (Photo courtesy of Tafelmusik)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir has announced details of their 2025\/26 season, the second with British violinist Rachel Podger as Principal Guest Director. Podger will be leading three of the concerts during 2025\/26, along with a tour of Western Canada.<\/p>\n

The season was curated by Artistic Co-Directors Brandon Chui, Dominic Teresi, and Cristina Zacharias.<\/p>\n

Tafelmusik 2025\/26<\/h2>\n

The season builds on the successes of 2024\/25, including the highly acclaimed recording of Haydn Symphonies directed by Rachel Podger. With many sold-out performances during the current season, Thursday night concerts are making a comeback, in addition to the usual Friday to Sunday performances.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnergized 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,\u201d says Cristina Zacharias<\/strong>, on behalf of Tafelmusik\u2019s Artistic Co-Directors in a statement. \u201cJoin us to be entranced, invigorated and delighted through the human connection only music can inspire.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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,\u201d says Glenn Hodgins<\/strong>, Executive Director. \u201cWe are filled with gratitude for the generosity of our donors and the support of subscribers, without whom Tafelmusik\u2019s success would not be possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rachel Podger, Principal Guest Director<\/h3>\n

Podger leads three concerts during 2025\/26.<\/p>\n

Mozart 40 & Schubert 5 on Sept 26, 27 & 28 (Koerner Hall)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rachel Podger will lead Tafelmusik\u2019s season opener. Mozart\u2019s No. 40, completed just three years before his untimely death in 1791, was known to have influenced Schubert and his own Symphony No. 5. Podger and Tafelmusik explore these well known works with their inimitable style.<\/p>\n

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos on Jan 29, 30, 31, and Feb 1, 2026 (Jeanne Lamon Hall)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Podger will lead the orchestra in a selection of the iconic Brandenburg Concertos, along with the premiere of a new orchestral arrangement of Bach\u2019s organ Prelude and Fugue in E-Flat Major, \u201cSt. Anne.\u201d<\/p>\n

Influencers: The Bachs, Mozart & Haydn, Apr 9, 2026 at George Weston Recital Hall; Apr 10, 11 & 12, 2026 at Jeanne Lamon Hall<\/strong><\/p>\n

Podger and the orchestra explore the synergies between these seminal composers of the classical tradition.<\/p>\n

\"Tafelmusik
Tafelmusik Chamber Choir (Photo courtesy of Tafelmusik)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Other 2025\/26 Season Highlights<\/h3>\n

Vivaldi\u2019s World on Oct 23, 24, 25, 26, 2025<\/strong>
\nDirected by Lina Tur Bonet, violin<\/p>\n

Spanish violinist Lina Tur Bonet turned heads with her debut with Tafelmusik in 2024, and she\u2019ll be back for a program that includes Vivaldi\u2019s Il Grosso Mogul concerto, Geminiani\u2019s showpiece, La Folia, and works by Zelenka and Albicastro.<\/p>\n

Vivaldi\u2019s World will tour east to Ottawa for a performance at the National Arts Centre\u2019s Southam Hall on Oct 27, 2025.<\/p>\n

Double Dixit: Lotti & Handel on Nov 28, 29, 30, 2025<\/strong>
\nDirected by Ivars Taurins<\/p>\n

Choral music takes centre stage when Tafelmusik Chamber Choir joins the orchestra to explore settings of the Latin text for Psalm 110 by Lotti and Handel. Choir Director Ivars Taurins curates the program around Venetian Antonio Lotti, who influenced a young Handel when he arrived in Italy.<\/p>\n

Handel Messiah on Dec 18, 19, & 20, 2025 at Koerner Hall<\/strong>
\nDirected by Ivars Taurins<\/p>\n

In keeping with the spirit of the original, Tafelmusik brings Handel\u2019s holiday classic to life with a cast of soloists that includes soprano Stephanie True, mezzo-soprano Krisztina Szab\u00f3, tenor Nicholas Scott and bass-baritone Jonathan Woody.<\/p>\n

Sing-Along Messiah on Dec 21, 2025 at Massey Hall<\/strong>
\nDirected by Mr. Handel<\/p>\n

The crowd favourite returns, with Mr. Handel directing a mass audience choir along with the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, orchestra, and guest soloists.<\/p>\n

Rameau & The Art of Dance: Tafelmusik meets Juilliard on Feb 19, 20, 21, 22, 2026<\/strong>
\nDirected by Robert Mealy, violin
\nChoreographed by Caroline Copeland<\/p>\n

French baroque dance music comes under the spotlight with guests Juilliard415 joining Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra. Robert Mealy, violinist and head of Juilliard\u2019s Historical Performance program, leads a program of music by Marais, Rebel, and Rameau, with choreography by renowned baroque dancer Caroline Copeland.<\/p>\n

A Bach Celebration on Mar 12, 13, 14, 15, 2026<\/strong>
\nDirected by Ivars Taurins<\/p>\n

Choir Director Ivars Taurins selected a few gems from Bach\u2019s formidable repertoire of more than 200 cantatas. Soloists soprano Myriam Leblanc and Grammy Award\u2013winning tenor James Reese join the orchestra.<\/p>\n

Hearing Her Voice on Apr 30, May 1, 2, & 3, 2026<\/strong>
\nAmanda Forsythe, soprano<\/p>\n

Soprano Amanda Forsythe explores female characters from baroque operas and cantatas by Handel, Pergolesi, \u00c9lisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre, and others. Tafelmusik extends that attention to women composers with a newly commissioned work by M\u00e9tis composer Karen Sunabacka.<\/p>\n

Beethoven & Bologne: The Winds of Change on May 29, 30, & 31, 2026 at Koerner Hall<\/strong>
\nDirected by Shunske Sato, violin<\/p>\n

The French Revolution inspired many artists with its philosophy of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Japanese-American violinist Shunske Sato makes his Tafelmusik debut leading Beethoven\u2019s revolutionary Symphony no. 3 \u201cEroica\u201d, and follows with Violin Concerto op. 3, no. 2 by the Black 18th-century composer Joseph Bologne, who fought in the Revolutionary war.<\/p>\n

Tafelmusik and Rachel Podger perform at Lotte Concert Hall, Seoul, South Korea on November 1, 2024:<\/p>\n