TAFELMUSIK AND RACHEL PODGER TAKE THE STAGE JANUARY 29–FEBRUARY 1 IN BACH BRANDENBURGS! TICKETS SELLING QUICKLY at Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre

TAFELMUSIK AND RACHEL PODGER TAKE THE STAGE JANUARY 29–FEBRUARY 1 IN BACH BRANDENBURGS! TICKETS SELLING QUICKLY

Featuring four J.S. Bach Brandenburg Concertos and the Toronto Premiere of Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in E-flat “St. Anne”, arranged for orchestra

Toronto, ON (December 16, 2025) — Tafelmusik launches the new year with a euphoric celebration of Bach in Bach Brandenburgs!, featuring Concertos Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4, running January 29 to February 1 at Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre. Led by the incomparable Rachel Podger, the ensemble delivers an invigorating interpretation of these iconic works, highlighting the sparkling virtuosity, expressive balance, and intricate architecture that define Bach’s music. The program also includes the Toronto premiere of Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in E-flat “St. Anne,” newly arranged for orchestra.

“Both Tafelmusik and Rachel Podger have earned world-wide accolades for their interpretations of Bach, and this joining of musical minds for the Brandenburg Concertos is sure to dazzle and enchant,” says Artistic Co-Director Cristina Zacharias. “Always eager to find new ways to experience Bach’s music, we are also thrilled to present Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in E-flat in a new orchestral arrangement by Artistic Co-Director Dominic Teresi, which debuted to critical acclaim on our recent West Coast tour." 

Originally titled Six Concertos with Several Instruments, the Brandenburg Concertos are among the most beloved works of the Baroque era, standing as a benchmark of ensemble collaboration and inventive musical design. Each concerto paints its own vivid musical vignette, filled with joy, wonder, and astonishing counterpoint. Tafelmusik’s JUNO Award-winning 1995 recording of the Brandenburgs was described by NPR as “lucid and refreshingly pure, like water drawn from a cool, clear stream.”

“Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos are some of the most innovative pieces to have been written during the Baroque era,” says director and violin soloist Rachel Podger. “Each concerto features a unique combination of solo instruments which in turn dazzle, sparkle, soar, sigh and mesmerise while their roles continuously shift between virtuosic solo displays, dialogues and being part of the ensemble. Bach’s writing is extremely virtuosic, strikingly beautiful and irresistibly joyful, and these pieces still sound fresh and modern, even today.”

The variety of instrumentation in the Brandenburg Concertos is a trademark feature. The First Concerto is the largest, scored for a generous ensemble of three oboes, bassoon, two horns, a solo violin, and strings. The solo group of the Second Concerto will feature newly appointed Tafelmusik oboist Daniel Ramirez Escudero, alongside Kathryn Montoya (recorder), Todd Williams (horn), and Julia Wedman (violin). The Third Concerto was inspired by Vivaldi’s L’Estro armónico and, like Vivaldi, Bach creates an orchestra out of a group of solo string players, but takes the concept a step further: his concerto features three solo violins, three violas, and three cellos. Rachel Podger takes centre stage in the virtuosic violin solo of the Fourth Concerto, alongside two recorder soloists. These inventive combinations and Bach’s experimentation offer a vivid window into the composer’s imagination and creative daring.

Completing the program is Bach’s remarkable Prelude and Fugue in E-Flat, “St. Anne,” newly arranged for orchestra, which received its world premiere on Tafelmusik’s recent West Coast tour to acclaim: "Teresi's arrangement exploited a kaleidoscopic spectrum of colour, with textures and timbres shifting and recombining across the ensemble in thrilling interplay.” (The Strad). The work’s grandeur and expressive depth make it a compelling complement to the concertos, revealing new colours and textures within one of Bach’s towering keyboard masterpieces.

Brimming with invention, beauty, and spirited dialogue between instruments, Bach Brandenburgs! promises an unforgettable evening of Baroque brilliance.

Program Listing

Bach Brandenburgs!

Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra
Directed by Rachel Podger

• Brandenburg Concerto No. 1

• Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 (Soloists: Daniel Ramírez Escudero, oboe; Kathryn Montoya, recorder; Todd Williams, horn; Julia Wedman, violin)

• Brandenburg Concerto No. 3

• Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 — Rachel Podger, violin soloist

• Prelude & Fugue in E-flat “St. Anne”, after BWV 522, arr. for orchestra— Toronto premiere

Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre

427 Bloor Street West, Toronto

January 29, 2026 7:30 pm

January 30, 2026 8:00 pm

January 31, 2026 8:00 pm

February 1, 2026 3:00 pm

Running Time: 120 minutes

Style of Music: Baroque orchestral

Tickets available and selling quickly: tafelmusik.org
 

Media materials are available, including:

• Tafelmusik plays Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 1, Adagio

• Bach Concerto Violin Concerto in A minor, Allegro assai — Rachel Podger

• Rachel Podger & Tafelmusik: Bach Orchestral Suite No. 1, Overture

• Behind-the-scenes photos HERE, photographer Gary Payne 

• Orchestra photos HERE, photographer Dahlia Katz

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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. www.tafelmusik.org

Website: tafelmusik.org
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Tafelmusik gratefully acknowledges the support of BMO, Presenting Sponsor of the 2025/26 concert season, as well as support from the Azrieli Foundation and Power Corporation of Canada. We are also grateful to our government partners Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, and the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute is generously supported by Lynn & James Haight, The Azrieli Foundation, and the McLean Foundation.