Rachel Podger begins her Principal Guest Director tenure with Tafelmusik with album release and Mozart performance series
26 September 2024
Marking her tenure as New Principal Guest Director, Rachel Podger directs the renowned Canadian Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra & Choir in an intimate new album and kicks off the 2024/2025 season with an all-Mozart opener with Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 in C Major “Jupiter” at the heart.
Rachel Podger directs Tafelmusik in a first new album featuring stunning renditions of Haydn’s symphonies No. 43 in E-flat Major Hob. I:43 “Mercury” and No. 49 in F Minor Hob. I:49 “La Passione”, and is set for release on 11 October 2024. Recorded live from concerts held at Jeanne Lamon Hall, Toronto, Canada in 2023, this release offers listeners a chance to experience Haydn’s symphonies with Rachel taking the reins as first violinist, leading and guiding Tafelmusik. This innovative approach is a rarity with only a handful of recordings sharing this unique perspective.
Acting as a true expanded chamber music ensemble, Canada's Tafelmusik (led from the first violin by Rachel Podger) explores two Haydn symphonies with the nimbleness and spontaneity that only an ensemble without a conductor can pull off, showcasing Haydn's appetite and enthusiasm for extremes on full display.
Tafelmusik
La Passione: Haydn & Mozart with Tafelmusik, felt like a homecoming - it was exciting but yet easy, like a team of friends that had always belonged together. There is this shared musical language, a desire to create and go on an adventure together which wehope can be felt in this recording. I have admired Tafelmusik for so many years that this is a dream come true.
Rachel Podger
September 27th offers a first experience of Rachel Podger as Principal Guest Director with all-Mozart season opener at Koerner Hall. Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 in C Major, “Jupiter.” is paired with Thamos, King of Egypt and the charming Violin Concerto no. 2 in D Major. Jupiter is a revolutionary, forward-looking masterpiece brimming with vigour and optimism, it ultimately proved to be Mozart’s final symphony before his untimely death at age 35. Rachel follows her striking 2023 performance of Mozart’s Violin Concerto no.1 with the charming Concerto no.2 in D Major.
Completing the season, Rachel will also direct two programs by favourite baroque composers: Brilliant Baroque (Jan 31–Feb 2, 2025); and Concerti Virtuosi: Vivaldi & Telemann (May 2–4, 2025) at Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre. Find out more here.
Rachel’s own Brecon Baroque Festival, approaching its 20th year, sees events and performances from a host of international stars including Rachel herself, all set in the beautiful surroundings of the Brecon Beacons National Park. This year the festival focuses on French repertoire and runs between Friday 11 and Monday 14 October 2024. Airing on 6th October, Hannah French interviews Rachel Podger for the Early Music Show on BBC Radio 3 – the duo ‘chew the cud’ about Brecon Baroque past, present and future.
For more information about this project or Rachel, please contact us. To listen to ‘Haydn Symphonies 43 & 49’ click here. To watch Rachel in action, please visit her page here. You can also follow her on Facebook and Instagram.