Bach and the Violin Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra Rachel Podger, guest director and violin soloist

"Podger astounds with her playing … Here is an artist whose musicality transcends technical difficulties and takes you straight to the heart of the music.” —American Record Guide Date + Times: Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre Wed May 2 at 7 PM Thurs May 3 – Sat May 5 at 8 PM Sun May 6 at 3:30 PM

Ticket Prices Regular $35 – $84 65+ $29 - $76 (Valid photo ID required) 30 & Under $15 - $76 (Valid photo ID required)

Venue: Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre, 427 Bloor Street West

Box Office: Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre: 416.964.6337 / www.tafelmusik.org

Websites: www.tafelmusik.org / www.facebook.com/tafelmusik.org

Masterclass: with Rachel Podger on May 5, 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM for advanced students and young professionals. Open to the public. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door only, Trinity-St.Paul’s Centre. Details below.

For media information or to arrange an interview, please contact: Luisa Trisi, Media Relations Manager, tel: 416 481‐1161 | e‐mail: [email protected] High‐resolution photos of Tafelmusik and Rachel Podger are available for download in the Media Room at www.tafelmusik.org

Known for her ―magnificent violin playing‖ (New York Times), British violinist Rachel Podger makes her Tafelmusik debut as director and soloist in Bach and the Violin, a series of concerts from May 2 to 6, 2012.

One of the most creative talents to emerge in the field of period performance over the last decade, Podger has established herself as a leading interpreter of the music of the baroque and classical periods. During her studies, she co-founded baroque chamber groups The Palladian Ensemble and Florilegium, and worked with period instrument ensembles such as the New London Consort and London Baroque.

Rachel Podger was leader of from 1997 to 2002, and in 2004 she began a guest directorship of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. She has been in demand as a soloist and guest director all over the world and has collaborated with orchestras around the globe including Arte dei Suonatori (Poland),

Santa Fe Pro Musica and Musica Angelica (USA), Capriccio Basel and the Holland Baroque Society. Podger’s latest endeavour is Brecon Baroque, an annual festival she directs in South Wales.

The programme selected by Ms. Podger includes Bach’s Violin Concerto in E Major, Vivaldi’s Concerto for Violin in A Major from La Cetra, and Telemann’s Concerto for 3 Violins in F Major. Also included is Brandenburg Concerto no. 4, which is featured on a recent 2-CD, JUNO Award-winning re-issue on the newly-launched Tafelmusik Media label.

Tafelmusik will offer a baroque violin masterclass with Rachel Podger for advanced students and young professionals on Saturday, May 5, 1:00 - 3:30 PM. Three violinists who are alumni of the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute — Valerie Gordon (Colorado), Allene Chomyn (Kitchener), and Alice Culin-Ellison (Kentucky) — will present works by Biber and Bach. The class is held at Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre and is open to the public. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door only; free admission for students. For more information, contact [email protected].

Click to read an interview with Rachel Podger from The Guardian.

Full concert programme:

Bach Brandenburg Concerto no. 4, BWV 1049 Telemann Concerto for 3 violins in F Major from Musique de table II Vivaldi Concerto for violin, from La Cetra Telemann Concerto for flute and recorder in E Minor Bach Violin Concerto in E Major, BWV 1042

Tafelmusik season presenting sponsor:

May 2 concert sponsored by:

May 3 & 5 concerts sponsored by:

May 4 & 6 concerts sponsored by:

Rachel Podger masterclass sponsored by:

Tafelmusik gratefully acknowledges the support of its partners in government:

Tafelmusik’s Season Radio Sponsor is The New CLASSICAL 96.3 FM. Tafelmusik’s Face the Musik programme is supported by TD Bank Group

Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, led by Music Director Jeanne Lamon and founded in 1979, is one of the world’s leading period performance ensembles. This season, Music Director Jeanne Lamon celebrates 30 years of inspired leadership of Tafelmusik. Tafelmusik Media, the choir and orchestra’s multi-platform recording label, was launched in January 2012. The orchestra performs over 50 concerts a year at home in Toronto, tours extensively around the world, has released over 78 CDs and has received nine JUNO Awards and a Grammy Award nomination. Tafelmusik is the Baroque Orchestra-in-Residence at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto and operates its annual Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute. The Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, specializing in baroque performance practice and vocal technique, was formed in 1981 to complement the Orchestra and celebrates its 30th anniversary this season. Tafelmusik’s touring activities this season include its 19th year as Orchestra-in-Residence in Irsee, Germany, a US tour with a return engagement at Carnegie Hall and the orchestra’s Australian debut. Canadian excursions include a residency at The Banff Centre, concerts in Ontario and performances by the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir with l’Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal at the inaugural concerts in its new hall.