Latest News
BACH CD RELEASE
November 11, 2023
Julia Wedman has just announced that her new album, “Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin by J.S. Bach” will be released on the 11th of November.
To celebrate this good news she is offering two wonderful concerts joined by The Eybler Quartet and the dancers Brian Solomon (Anishinaabe/Irish) and Mariana Medellín (Mestizo/Mexican).
The first concert will be at Trinity St. Paul's United Church - Gymnasium on Saturday, November 11th at 8:15 p.m.
The second concert will be in St. Catharines United Mennonite Church on Sunday, November 12th at 3:00 p.m.
Julia Wedman has been named Symphony Nova Scotia’s new Principal Baroque Leader
February 11, 2023
Halifax/K’jipuktuk, NS – Symphony Nova Scotia is pleased to announce that Tafelmusik’s Julia Wedman has been named the Symphony’s new Principal Baroque Leader.
The Principal Baroque Leader is a senior member of the artistic team who advises on guest artists, conductors, and repertoire for the Symphony’s Baroque season. They are the primary leader for the series, and will direct and conduct a number of Baroque programs throughout the season, in addition to working with the Symphony’s Music Director Holly Mathieson to ensure programming meets long-term goals.
“I am thrilled and honoured to be joining the Symphony Nova Scotia family, continuing along the inspirational path set by the brilliant and beloved Jeanne Lamon,” says Wedman.
Symphony Nova Scotia has long been known as an ensemble dedicated to Baroque performance practice, working exclusively with experts on its Baroque Series. The Symphony’s reputation for Baroque playing was developed and inspired by Symphony Nova Scotia’s Principal Baroque Leader Laureate and Music Director Emerita of Tafelmusik Jeanne Lamon, who passed away in June 2021.
Wedman will continue the development of the Symphony Nova Scotia Baroque playing style led by Lamon over the past three decades with a level of specialized training typically not received in music schools and conservatories. In addition to rehearsals and concerts, Wedman will also offer Baroque performance practice workshops to the Symphony’s musicians, as well as the young players in the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra.
“It was love at first sight for me, working with this exceptional group of musicians and staff, and getting to experience the warmth and dedication of the Symphony’s audience. I look forward to our beautiful musical collaborations and deepening friendships in the years to come!”
IN THE WAKE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE EYBLER QUARTET WELCOMES PATRICIA AHERN IN ITS FIRST CHANGE IN PERSONNEL SINCE OUR FORMATION IN 2004.
AISSLINN NOSKY’S RECENT CAREER TRAJECTORY HAS TAKEN HER IN FRESH AND NEW DIRECTIONS AND IT IS TIME TO MOVE ON. “NEVER IN MY WILDEST CHILDHOOD CAREER FANTASIES DID I EVER IMAGINE THAT I WOULD GET TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING AS BEAUTIFUL AS THE EYBLER QUARTET,” SAYS NOSKY. “THE QUARTET HAS BEEN MY MUSICAL FAMILY AND I WILL DEEPLY TREASURE OUR TIME TOGETHER.”
We are delighted to be welcoming Patricia Ahern, joining Julia Wedman in the other violin position. Our close association with Patricia over the last twenty years as a member of Tafelmusik has made this a particularly smooth and seamless change. “I am absolutely delighted to be joining the Eybler Quartet,” says Ahern. “It is so fantastic to be making music at the highest level with wonderful friends, and I am truly grateful for this opportunity.”
The Eybler Quartet will begin to ramp up our concert and recording schedule in the near future, including appearances in the US and throughout Canada. Look for performances at Penn State University in early 2023, as part of an innovative collaboration with musicologist Mark Ferraguto. We are acting as consultants in preparing a new edition of recently rediscovered works by a colleague of Beethoven’s. More details on this and the forthcoming recording that will be part of the project! We’ll also be presenting a special set of guided listening performances with Suzannah Clark, Morton B. Knafel Professor of Music at Harvard University, as well as performances in June 2023 as part of the Banff Centre’s Evolution:Quartet program.
The Eybler Quartet would like to thank Aisslinn Nosky for her incredible contributions to the group from its inception, through innumerable concerts and several critically acclaimed recordings. In parting, Nosky offers, “My performance schedule south of the border and around the world is preventing me from being a member of the Eybler Quartet. I wish Patricia Ahern all best as she joins the quartet!”
EYBLER QUARTET
SILVER SPIRE UNITED CHURCH
ST. CATHARINES
SUNDAY
JUNE 5
2:30PM
VIRTUAL ACCESS UNTIL JULY 31, 2022
PROGRAM
Eybler Quartet performs Joseph Haydn’s Op. 54. #1, Cris Derksen’s “White Man’s Cattle”, and quartets from Emanuel Aloys Förster & Jean-Baptiste Bréval.
TORONTO BACH FESTIVAL
February 11, 2023
PROGRAM
Easter Oratorio, BWV 249
Ascension Oratorio, BWV 11
TORONTO BACH FESTIVAL
February 11, 2023
PROGRAM
Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001
Partita No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002
Sonata No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003
Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004
Sonata No. 3 in C major, BWV 1005
Partita No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006
TORONTO BACH FESTIVAL
February 11, 2023
PROGRAM
Concerto for Oboe, BWV 1056
Concerto for Flute, Violin, and Harpsichord, BWV 1044
Brandenburg Concerto No. 1, BWV 1046
Tafelmusik
Live performance at Massey Hall
May 5, 2022, 7:30pm at Massey Hall
Digital concert (livestream)
May 6, 2022 at 7:30pm ET
Masaaki Suzuki guest director
Joanne Lunn soprano
Tim Mead countertenor
Thomas Hobbs tenor
Jonathon Adams baritone
Tafelmusik Chamber Choir
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra
L’Harmonie des saisons
February 11, 2023
Cantatas of J S BachSeries : Les grands rendez-vous sacrésBWV 162, BWV 6, BWV 30
April, 23 2022, 2.30 pm
St-Patrick Church in MAGOG
IN REPLACEMENT of the Abbey of Saint-Benoît-du-Lac
April, 24 2022, 2.30 pm
Hall Bourgie of the Fine Arts Museum of Montreal
Live and In-Person!
Sunday, April 10, 3:30PM
St. David's Anglican Church
49 Donlands Ave., Toronto
July 12, 2025
https://www.rezonanceensemble.com/concerts
A Tafelmusik Tribute to Jeanne Lamon
Digital concert (livestream)
May 6, 2022 at 7:30pm ET
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra directed by Julia Wedman
Tafelmusik Chamber Choir directed by Ivars Taurins
R.H. Thomson, narrator
Brett Polegato, baritone
Created by Christina Mahler and Alison Mackay
Barbara Willis Sweete, film director
Live performance at Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre
April 2, 2022 2pm & 8pm Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul's Centre
PROGRAM
Vivaldi Concerto for 2 violins in A Major, op. 3, no. 5: Allegro
(Julia Wedmanand Christina Zacharias, violins)Monteverdi Beatus vir, excerpted
(Tafelmusik Chamber Choir)S. Rossi Sinfonia undecima
S. Rossi Shir hamma‛allot. ’Ashrei kol yere ’adonai (Psalm 128)
(Tafelmusik Chamber Choir)Marcello O immacolata e pura (Psalm 19)
(Brett Polegato, baritone)Bach French Suite no. 4, BWV 815: Allemande
(Charlotte Nediger, harpsichord)Bach Concerto for 3 violins in D, after BWV 1064: I. Allegro
(Julia Wedman, Geneviève Gilardeau, & Cristina Zacharias, violins)Telemann Tafelmusik Book III: Conclusion
Lully Passacaille from Armide
Handel Concerto grosso in D Major, op. 6, no. 5: V. Allegro
Bach Erbarme dich, from St Matthew Passion, arranged
(Julia Wedman, violin; Marco Cera, oboe d’amore)Bach Mein teuer Heilandfrom St John Passion
(Brett Polgeato, baritone; Tafelmusik Chamber Choir)Bach Cantata 170 Vergnügte Ruh, arranged
(John Abberger, oboe)Bach Sinfonia to BWV 249a, arranged
FAVOURITE CONCERTOS
Sunday May 2, 2:00PM & One Week Access
Three concertos that perfectly encompass Bach’s imaginative writing, full of creative dialogue between instruments. Concerto in C minor for Violin and Oboe BWV 1060, Concerto in D minor for two Violins BWV 1043, and Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major BWV 1048. A concert produced by the Toronto Bach Festival and performed at the Isabel Bader Centre for Performing Arts, in Kingston, Ontario.
St John Passion - Johann Sebastian Bach
Premiere: March 21 2021, 2h p.m.
Until April 3 - Streaming Concert – at Québec Baroque
St John Passion - Johann Sebastian Bach
Experience the St. John Passion with L’Harmonie des saisons and rediscover this masterpiece from Johann Sebastian Bach.
Under the direction of Eric Milnes, L’Harmonie des saisons’ authentic rendition reveals the full power of the work.
Concerti Favoriti
February 14th 2021, 2:00 p.m.
Some of the most beautiful music written by Alessandro Marcello, Vivaldi, Bach and Handel.
The concerto remains one of the most important inventions in the history of music. Juxtaposing one or more soloists with a supporting ensemble, allows for dynamic exchanges, contrasting colors, textures and timbres which never fail to delight the ear. It was Vivaldi who, while not its creator, definitively set the form in three movements: quick-slow-quick. This model was soon adopted by all of Europe— the concerto grosso remaining closer to the old model set by Corelli. On the program is Alessandro Marcello’s famous Oboe Concerto, two Vivaldi concertos— including one guitar concerto— Bach’s Concerto for two violins, and Handel’s concerto grosso.
Handel’s Messiah
December 13th, 2:00 p.m., at Québec Baroque
The Masterpiece for the Holidays
Handel, through his signature melodies and fullness of harmony, brings together in his MESSIAH the contemplation of divine mystery, compassion, hope and triumph at its most poignant.
For this performance, L’Harmonie des saisons will present the first part of the Messiah, which recounts the events surrounding the birth of Jesus; and will end with the Hallelujah, replete with its irresistible, exuberant choir, today a universal symbol of joy and gratitude.
THE ART OF HÉLÈNE BRUNET
November 27, 2020 – 7:00 p.m.
Expression and Vocal Virtuosity in Baroque Opera.
Savor the arresting joy of soprano Hélène Brunet and rediscover the captivating energy of ensemble L’Harmonie des saisons by viewing from your home the launch concert of the Solfeggio CD.
With “her singing of perfect beauty and her most radiant stage presence”, soprano Hélène Brunet is perfectly at ease in the baroque repertoire, which she renders with singular nuance and conviction. With a unique timbre, her voice embodies all the expressive registers demanded by 18th century opera. These arias range from despair to fury, sadness to happiness, as the most virtuoso bel canto is revealed in refreshing melodic profusion. The program will highlight contrasting baroque opera arias by the Venetian Antonio Vivaldi and the Neapolitan Leonardo Vinci as well as delightful excerpts from Handel’s Acis and Galatea.
Eybler Trio
Sunday November, 22, 2020 at 2pm
Both 2pm & 4pm concerts are sold out. Please join us virtually. Eybler Trio members Julia Wedman, Patrick Jordan and Margaret Gay will perform Mozart’s Divertimento K563. This concert will replace the one originally scheduled, as Tafelmusik is no longer able to travel to Niagara.
Toronto Bach Festival
Sunday November 1, 2020 at 2:30 pm
Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts
In-Person + Online Access
Join us for a celebration of some of Bach’s greatest concertos, including the amazing Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, with Toronto’s top baroque musicians. Revel in the Bach Concerto for two violins in D minor, BWV 1043, Concerto for oboe in G minor, after BWV 1056, and more. Toronto Bach Festival illuminates the creative genius of western music’s preeminent composer through exhilarating, historically-informed, and innovative performances.
Toronto Bach Festival
Friday November 13, 2020 at 7:00 PM
Concerto in C minor for Violin and Oboe, BWV 1060
Concerto in D minor for two Violins, BWV 1043
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048
Tafelmusik: Passions of the Soul
Thursday Nov 26, 2020 at 8pm EST Online
PROGRAM:
Jean-Marie Leclair Ouverture to Scylla et Glaucus*
Giuseppe Tartini Concerto for violoncello in A Major*
Pietro Antonio Locatelli Sinfonia Funebre*
Michel Richard de Lalande Chaconne from Les fontaines de Versailles*
Johann Christoph Pez Orchestral suite in D Minor*
Johann Sebastian Bach Concerto for 3 violins in D Major, after BWV 1064
Georg Philipp Telemann Suite in B-flat Major “La Bourse” (The Stock Exchange)
Recording sessions with L'Harmonie des Saisons
August 19, 2020 - August 20, 2020 and September 3, 2020 - September 12, 2020 (Frelighsburg, Quebec)
Concertos by Bach, Vivaldi and Handel
Messiah
Bach arias and instrumental music
French program with music by Marais, Charpentier, Rebel, Delalande and Dumont
Handel and Vivaldi arias and instrumental music
The first video comes out in October!
Chris Wolf's chat with Violinist Julia Wedman and Violist Patrick Jordan on their recording of the Quartets of Franz Asplmayr.
Published: 03 August 2020
Earlier this week, Diamond Lane host Chris Wolf had the opportunity to chat with Violinist Julia Wedman and Violist Patrick Jordan, two members of the Eybler String Quartet. If you want to hear the complete conversation you can watch it following the link below.
J.S. Bach, Magnificat in D & Jesu, meine Freude.
Final Concert of the Summer Baroque Choral Academy
Sing Magnificat! Virtual Choir.
Live Streaming Concert at Isabel Digital Concert Hall
Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at 7:00 PM EDT
THE BEAUTY OF BACH
Musicians:
John Abberger, oboe (Toronto Bach Festival Music Director, Principal Oboist of Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra)
Julia Wedman, violin (Violinist with Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, I Furiosi, Eybler Quartet)
Felix Deak, violoncello
Christopher Bagan, harpsichord
All Bach Program:
Trio in F, movements 1 and 2
Bouree I and II from Suite No. 3
Sonata in e for oboe
Sonata in e for violin
Ricercar from the Musical Offering
Allemande and Courante from French Suite No. 5
Trio in F, movements 3 and 4
theWholeNote (May, 2020)
by Julia Wedman
I am a baroque violinist, a member of Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Eybler Quartet, and I FURIOSI Baroque Ensemble. I play regularly with the Toronto Bach Festival, Theater of Early Music, L’Harmonie des Saisons, and occasionally I fly over to Europe for performances with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (London) and the Orchestra of the 18th Century (Amsterdam). I teach baroque violin at the University of Toronto, at Tafelmusik’s Summer Institute and at the Banff Centre for the Arts (for the Evolution: Quartet program).
Since COVID-19 hit, I have had to let go of all of my concerts and recordings thus far until August. That includes 2 St. John Passions (one with L’Harmonie des Saisons in Montreal, one with Tafelmusik), a St. Matthew Passion (Kalamazoo Symphony), a Bach program and a Handel program with Tafelmusik including a new Handel recording, performances at the Toronto Bach Festival in May, a chamber music program in Montreal with some colleagues and students, a few Eybler quartet concerts as well as recording a new Haydn CD, teaching at Tafelmusik’s Summer institute and at the Banff Centre in July….and more to come…
All of the groups are planning on some kind of postponement of projects, but time will tell what kind of format they will take. I think probably my work with smaller groups will resume more quickly than others, but also we may start doing things like streaming concerts, planning smaller concerts, prioritizing recording, etc. For some projects we are doing things online instead of in person (like the recent Aspylmayr online CD launch).
Right now it is a lot of planning, re-thinking, strategizing, learning new skills, and creating projects that will support the changing world of what it means to be a musician. I have been working on a new website. Almost everyone has been making videos - I have done a few for Tafelmusik and L’Harmonie de Saisons, Eybler Quartet is in the process of making videos to support our newly released Aspylmayr recording, and I FURIOSI is in the process of releasing some tracks from live recordings that we have made over the last 20 years. Having a break from the rigorous world of live performance is a welcome opportunity to reconnect with people, catch up on things that I have been “meaning to do”, and gives me some space (during panic breaks!) to think and create. I would say that I am also being buoyed and inspired by my incredibly talented, creative and imaginative colleagues all around the world. It is definitely a time like this that I am exceedingly grateful for online platforms keeping us connected.
As for how best people reading this can stay in touch … my new website!!! www.juliawedman.com. I have been working on this with one of my brilliant students and I am thrilled with how it’s coming together! It is a way for people to keep up with what I have been up to, watch videos, find links to my groups, to buying recordings that will give money directly to artists, AND, what I might be the most excited about – it is a place where people have access to resources that I love! There is a baroque music learning page with links to books and scores, and there is a wellbeing section with links to books, websites, articles and more. This is a collaborative effort so please send me a comment through my contact page if you have suggestions or resources that you would like to see added!
I’ve “pinned” my response on this map to Trinity-St Paul’s Church, Tafelmusik’s home base and my favourite place to work in Toronto. I love the acoustics, I love the energy of the space with all of the different activities that happen here, and I love all of the people - both at Tafelmusik and at the church. It is my musical “happy place.”
Franz Asplmayr - Documentary
Bringing New Life to Franz Asplmayr
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Eybler Quartet released its latest recording, Franz Asplmayr's String Quartets, Op. 2, nos. 1-6. This mini-documentary captures some behind-the-scenes footage of our recording sessions plus some hilarious interviews with the Eybler Quartet members!
I FURIOSI Fridays@5
by Julia Wedman
"This is something I have been wanting us to do for our fans for a long time! We have tons of amazing live performances from 20 years of I Furiosi, and we are going through the archives, choosing the ones we like and sending them out to you with lots of love every Friday@5! Special thanks to Cristina Prats Costa for the brilliant video, to Lucas Harris for his beautiful playing and to Ryan McCambridge for recording all of our concerts!"
Tafelmusik at Home
Prelude: May 27, 2020 at 7pm
Julia Wedman, violin
H.I.F. von Biber, Passacaglia
J.S. Bach, Sonata in C Major, BWV 1005: Largo – Allegro Assai
CBC Listen: This Is My Music with Violinist - Julia Wedman
May 16, 2020
Re-broadcast of "This Is My Music" - 2 hours of me hosting a radio show, talking about and listening to my favourite music and musicians that inspire me.
Franz Asplmayr virtual album release of the Six Op. 2 String Quartets
April 15, 2020
He's waited 250 years, but here it is! Available for download and streaming at iTunes and other platforms.
Toronto Bach Festival
TBC Autumn 2020
The Toronto Bach Festival illuminates the creative genius of western music’s preeminent composer through exhilarating, historically-informed, and innovative performances. Founded in 2016 by John Abberger, the Toronto Bach Festival endeavours to promote the music of this iconic composer to diverse audiences. Over time we aim to perform all of the composer’s works, sacred and secular, from intimate chamber pieces to large-scale works for orchestra, choir, and soloists.
SONGS OF LIFE YEAR 3 BACH ON TURTLE’S BACK - REBIRTH
May 2, 2021 at 2PM
Songs Of Life – Year 2 Bach On Turtle’s Back – Death
March 8, 2020
St. Catharines, ON, Canada
Creation, destruction and transformation resonate as connective themes of human expression.“Songs of Life”explores these profound truths through performances by solo violinist Julia Wedman of Tafelmusik, the artistic explorations of dancer Brian Solomon (Anishinaabe/Irish), and the transcendent music of J.S.Bach. Year two of a three year project, all supported by the Pluralism Fund.
Performers:
Sinéad White, soprano, Asitha Tennekoon, tenor,
Jessica Wright, mezzo soprano, Keith Lam, baritone,
Alison Melville, flute, Michelle Odorico, violin, Patrick Jordan, viola, Margaret Gay, cello, Louise Hung, keyboard.
With special guest Mariana Medellin, dancer.
