The Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra (also known simply as Tafelmusik) is a Canadian orchestra specializing in historically-informed performance and based in Toronto. The orchestra plays period instruments appropriate to the era of music, including baroque, classical and romantic eras. [1]
The orchestra was founded in 1979 by oboist Kenneth Solway and bassoonist Susan Graves. Violinist Jeanne Lamon served as Music Director from 1981 to 2014. An Artistic Committee composed of three orchestra musicians assumed artistic leadership until the appointment of Italian violinist Elisa Citterio as Music Director in 2017. [2] Lamon held the title of Chief Artistic Advisor until 2015, and continued to perform with the orchestra in a reduced capacity until her death from lung cancer in 2021. Citterio departed in early 2022, returning to her native Italy amidst a global pandemic. In spring 2022, Tafelmusik's Board of Directors appointed three core orchestra musicians as Artistic Co-Directors, Brandon Chui, Dominic Teresi and Cristina Zacharias. Rachel Podger joins the artistic team in Fall 2024 as Principal Guest Director. [3]
The orchestra has sixteen full-time members who specialize in historical performance and technique, with additional musicians joining the ensemble when required.
The Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, under the direction of Ivars Taurins, [4] was formed in 1981 to complement the orchestra.
Tafelmusik performs over 50 concerts for its subscription season at Jeanne Lamon Hall in Trinity-St. Paul's United Church, a historic church in the Annex neighbourhood of Toronto, and at Koerner Hall, TELUS Centre for the Performing Arts, Royal Conservatory of Music. They also collaborate with Opera Atelier each season at the Elgin Theatre in downtown Toronto. Tafelmusik's annual Sing Along Messiah is traditionally held at Massey Hall.
The orchestra has toured in 350 cities in 32 countries,touring regularly across Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia. [5] From 1993 to 2011, Tafelmusik was orchestra in residence at the German Klang und Raum Festival in the small village of Irsee in Bavaria.
In 2002 the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute was created to provide pre-professional and professional musicians with a unique training programme in instrumental and vocal baroque performance practice. The institute is a two-week program consisting of masterclasses, private lessons, orchestral and choral rehearsals, chamber ensemble work, lectures and seminars, and baroque dance classes.
The orchestra also performs at times without sheet music and has offered insightful multimedia shows shining a light on various historical topics and making interesting connections. Notable projects include The Galileo Project, House of Dreams, Circle of Creation and Tales of Two Cities. [6] [7] [5]
The orchestra's recordings have also received the following awards:
The orchestra has made over 80 recordings, DVDs and CDs. Some are to be found in Sony Classical's Vivarte series, Analekta and CBC Records. Tafelmusik launched the independent label Tafelmusik Media in January 2012.
The recordings include:
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