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.