In the 1730s, Johann Sebastian Bach gathered with friends at Leipzig’s bustling Zimmerman’s coffeehouse for weekly concerts of brilliant music, carrying on a tradition of weekly meetings by the Collegium Musicum originally founded by his friend, Georg Philip Telemann. With Principal Guest Director Rachel Podger, “the unsurpassed British glory of the Baroque violin” (The Times), Canada's premier Baroque orchestra Tafelmusik recaptures the quintessential spirit of the Baroque, exploring the rich and varied repertoire of the 18th century coffeehouse culture—featuring invigorating music by Bach, Purcell, Handel, and Vivaldi—for one night only with SFEMS.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 7:30 PM
First Church Berkeley UCC (First Congregational)
2345 Channing Way
About Tafelmusik
Since September 2024, Rachel Podger has held the position of Tafelmusik's Principal Guest Director. Winner of two 2023 BBC Music Magazine Awards for Instrumental Recording and Recording of the Year, Podger is a leading interpreter of Baroque and Classical music. Podger last appeared with SFEMS at the 2022 Berkeley Festival & Exhibition.
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.
Brandon Chui, Dominic Teresi, Cristina Zacharias, artistic co-directors; Glenn Hodgins, executive director
