Tafelmusik Will Present Beethoven's EROICA & BOLOGNE to Close 2025/26 Season
A symphonic landmark and a groundbreaking Black composer, led by Shunske Sato in his Tafelmusik debut.
Tafelmusik closes its 2025/26 season with a program of rare power and resonance: Beethoven Eroica & Bologne: The Winds of Change, running May 29–31 at Koerner Hall in Toronto.
At its centre is Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony no. 3, “Eroica”, a work widely considered one of the most important turning points in Western music. Expanding the scope, emotional depth, and ambition of the symphony, Eroica shattered conventions and redefined what orchestral music could be. Composed in the spirit of revolution, Beethoven famously withdrew its dedication to Napoleon after he declared himself emperor, cementing the work as a bold artistic statement of independence and ideals.
Set alongside it is the music of Joseph Bologne, the most celebrated and accomplished Black composer of the 18th century. A virtuoso violinist, conductor, and cultural force in Paris, Bologne rose to prominence despite the racial and social barriers of his time. His Violin Concerto op. 3, no. 2, performed here by Shunske Sato, is as brilliant as it is demanding, a work that rivals the great concertos of the era.
Bringing these two forces together is Sato, making his Tafelmusik debut directing from the violin. Recently named the recipient of the 2025 Suntory Music Award, Sato is internationally recognized for revelatory performances that combine technical precision with a probing, contemporary sensibility. As Concertmaster of Concerto Köln and former Artistic Leader of the Netherlands Bach Society, he has built a reputation for reimagining core repertoire with clarity, energy, and expressive depth.
“This program brings together three extraordinary forces,” says Brandon Chui, Artistic Co-Director of Tafelmusik. “Beethoven's Eroica changed the course of music, Bologne represents a voice of brilliance and resilience that history is still catching up to, and Shunske Sato brings a perspective that is both deeply informed and completely alive. It's a powerful way to close the season.”
Opening with François-Joseph Gossec's Overture to Le Triomphe de la République, the program traces a moment in history when music became inseparable from ideas of change, resistance, and possibility.
Tafelmusik's recording release Music of Joseph Bologne: Chevalier de Saint-Georges was the first major recording of Bologne's music and has been widely appreciated, most recently sampled on Beyoncé's album Cowboy Carter. Tafelmusik's recordings of the complete Beethoven symphonies have been groundbreaking and influential.
Performed on period instruments by Tafelmusik, using historical bows, gut strings, and classical-era winds and brass, the season finale invites audiences to experience a sound world and approach Beethoven and Bologne would have recognized.
Looking ahead, Tafelmusik continues this momentum into its 2026/27 season, with a dynamic lineup that further explores the bold possibilities of historically informed performance. Subscriptions are now on sale, offering early access to the season's most anticipated programs.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Title: Beethoven Eroica & Bologne: The Winds of Change
Dates & Venue: Koerner Hall, Toronto
- Friday, May 29, 2026 at 8:00 pm
- Saturday, May 30, 2026 at 8:00 pm
- Sunday, May 31, 2026 at 3:00 pm
Featuring:
- Shunske Sato, director & violin soloist
- Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra
Program:
- François-Joseph Gossec — Overture to Le Triomphe de la République
- Joseph Bologne — Violin Concerto op. 3, no. 2 (Shunske Sato, violin soloist)
- Ludwig van Beethoven — Finale of The Creatures of Prometheus
- Ludwig van Beethoven — Symphony no. 3 “Eroica”
Run Time: Approximately 120 minutes
Style: Classical orchestral
TICKETS
Tickets available at tafelmusik.org
$20 tickets available for Tafelscene members aged 35 and under.
RCM Ticketing Office: 416-408-0208
Subscribers can add this concert to their series package and save 20%.
About Tafelmusik
Brandon Chui, Dominic Teresi & Cristina Zacharias, Artistic Co-Directors
Glenn Hodgins, Executive Director
Every now and then a group of musicians comes along and changes the way we think about music. For over four decades, Tafelmusik has been synonymous worldwide with dynamic, engaging, and soulful performances informed by scholarship, passion and artistic excellence.
Performing on instruments and in styles appropriate to the era, Tafelmusik has performed in more than 350 cities in 32 countries. Its extensive discography on the Sony, CBC Records, Analekta and Tafelmusik Media labels have garnered ten JUNOs and numerous international recording prizes. From a vibrant home season in Toronto, to international tours, award-winning recordings, innovative collaborations, and inspiring education programs, Tafelmusik is a musical powerhouse with a reputation for thrilling and delighting audiences.
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