About this Event
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2023 FESTIVAL PROGRAM
VIRTUOSO CONCERTO | Fri, May 26th | 8pm | Church of the Holy Trinity
THE WELL-TEMPERED CLAVIER | Sat, May 27th | 12 & 2pm | Eastminster United Church
KAFFEEHAUS | Sat, May 27th | 8pm | The Concert Hall
ANNUAL LECTURE | Sun, May 28th | 1:30pm | Eastminster United Church
LEIPZIG CANTATAS | Sun, May 28th | 4pm | Eastminster United Church
Please see below for more event and venue details.
Events are subject to availability. All sales are final, with no refunds or exchanges. Programming, artists, schedule, and pricing are subject to change without notice or compensation.
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VIRTUOSO CONCERTO
Fri, May 26th | 8 PM | Church of the Holy Trinity
Directed by Steven Devine
We are pleased to welcome this year’s guest artist, harpsichordist Steven Devine, as he makes his Toronto Bach Festival debut in one of Bach’s most striking concertos, the powerful Concerto in D minor for harpsichord. The program, taking place downtown Toronto at the beautiful Church of the Holy Trinity, will also include the rarely performed Concerto in C major for two harpsichords, featuring Mr. Devine alongside our own Christopher Bagan. Rounding out the evening will be the beloved Concerto in E major for violin, featuring festival concertmaster Julia Wedman, and a new transcription of Bach’s Italian Concerto, arranged and performed by Artistic Director John Abberger.
FEATURING
Steven Devine, harpsichord
Christopher Bagan, harpsichord
Julia Wedman, violin
John Abberger, oboe
The Toronto Bach Festival Orchestra
PROGRAM
Harpsichord Concerto No. 1 in D minor, BWV 1052
Italian Concerto in F major, after BWV 971
Concerto for Two Harpsichords in C major, BWV 1061
Violin Concerto in E major, BWV 1042
Location Information - Church of the Holy Trinity, 19 Trinity Square, Toronto
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THE WELL-TEMPERED CLAVIER
Saturday, May 27
Presented in Two Parts | Part I: 12 PM | Part II: 2 PM
Eastminster United Church
One of Britain’s most distinguished harpsichordists, festival guest artist Steven Devine will offer a complete performance of the iconic Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1. Although these preludes and fugues were composed over a period of years, Bach revised many of them and assembled them into a magnificent manuscript copy in the year 1722, just before his move to Leipzig in 1723. Mr. Devine is the principal keyboardist with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and is a frequent soloist with many ensembles around the world. His critically acclaimed recording of The Well-Tempered Clavier was released in 2019.
Presented in two parts (approx. 60 minutes each), this will be a perfect opportunity to explore the bustling Danforth community for refreshment between performances!
FEATURING
Steven Devine, harpsichord
PROGRAM
The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1, BWV 846–869
Part I at 12 PM will run approximately 60 minutes.
Part II at 2 PM will run approximately 60 minutes.
There will be a 1 hour (approx.) break between performances.
Location Information for Eastminster United Church, 310 Danforth Ave, Toronto
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KAFFEEHAUS
Sat, May 27th | 8 PM | The Concert Hall
Directed by John Abberger
Many of Bach’s instrumental works, as well as a significant number of non-religious vocal works were performed at Zimmerman’s coffee house in Leipzig. We are especially pleased and excited to welcome the distinguished Canadian actor R.H. Thomson in his Toronto Bach Festival debut as Herr Zimmerman as we inaugurate a new feature at this year’s festival, a recreation of the spirit of this important outlet in Bach’s creative life. Leave your formal concert etiquette at home, and join us at Toronto’s venerable Concert Hall for a relaxing evening of great music in a café setting.
FEATURING
Rebecca Genge, soprano
James Gilchrist, tenor
Jonathon Adams, bass
The Toronto Bach Festival Orchestra
With Special Guest
R.H. Thomson
PROGRAM
Coffee Cantata, BWV 211
Concerto for Violin and Oboe by Telemann
Concerto for Four Violins, Op. 3, No. 7 by Vivaldi
Location Information - The Concert Hall, 888 Yonge St, Toronto
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LEIPZIG CANTATAS
Sun, May 28th | 4 PM | Eastminster United Church
Directed by John Abberger
When Bach arrived in Leipzig in late May of 1723 he came prepared to show the city what he could do as the director of music. The high point of the 2023 festival will be a celebration of the first cantatas that Bach performed in the principal churches of the city in the weeks after his arrival. As these works amply demonstrate, it was an auspicious beginning to a period of extraordinary creative output which saw the composition of over 100 cantatas in the course of the next four years. Join us as we celebrate this turning point in Bach’s life with some of his greatest cantata creations - not to be missed!
FEATURING
Ellen McAteer and Sinéad White, sopranos
Daniel Taylor and Nicholas Burns, altos
James Gilchrist and Cory Knight, tenors
Jonathon Adams and Adam Kuiack, basses
The Toronto Bach Festival Orchestra
PROGRAM
Die Elenden sollen essen, BWV 75
Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes, BWV 76
Location Information for Eastminster United Church, 310 Danforth Ave, Toronto
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ANNUAL LECTURE
J.S. Bach: Cantor, Capellmeister, Director
Sun, May 28th | 1:30 PM | Eastminster United Church
Presented by Daniel R. Melamed
During his years at the court at Anhalt-Köthen, the composer’s focus was primarily on instrumental works and keyboard works. The move to Leipzig necessitated a renewed focus on vocal works for the church, but did it really change Bach’s compositional outlook? Bach scholar Daniel R. Melamed will guide us through this interesting time in Bach’s creative life.
Mr. Melamed is Professor of Musicology at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.
Location Information for Eastminster United Church, 310 Danforth Ave, Toronto
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Eastminster United Church, 310 Danforth Avenue, Toronto, Canada
CAD 179.00