As we celebrate 40 years of Tafelmusik, we’ll look back at this incredible journey through timelines of highlights of each decade. First up: 1978/79 to 1988/89, our first decade!

1978/79
Kenneth Solway and Susan Graves establish The Toronto Chamber Music Collective and present A Spring Festival of Baroque Music, featuring a concert of orchestral music of J.S. Bach performed by The Festival Baroque Orchestra (later renamed Tafelmusik)

1979/80
April 17, 1980 marks the first concert with Jeanne Lamon as guest director in a program of works by Handel, Bach, Purcell, and Telemann

1980/81
Kenneth Solway finds a permanent home for Tafelmusik at Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre in downtown Toronto (where we still perform almost 40 years later!)

First annual performance of Handel Messiah (with St. Thomas’ Singers)

1981/82
Jeanne Lamon assumes position of Music Director

Orchestra’s first tours of North America, including New York’s Lincoln Centre

Tafelmusik Chamber Choir founded

1983/84
First recording produced: Popular Masterpieces of the Baroque

1984/85
First European tour includes Lisbon, Madeira, Holland, and Germany

1985/86
First collaboration with Opera Atelier at the Royal Ontario Museum

1986/87
First Sing-Along Messiah performed at Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre

First tour of Central and South America

1987/88
Signing of BMG recording contract which results in 4 CDs

1988/89
Frans Brüggen takes the orchestra into the early nineteenth century, directing Schubert Symphony no. 5