Sinfonia Toronto performs seven Masterpiece Series concerts on Saturday evenings at Toronto's acoustical splendour of Grace Church on-the-Hill.
The orchestra travels to other Ontario cities, and performs with choirs such as the Elmer Iseler Singers, the Toronto Chinese Choir and the Toronto Korean-Canadian Choir. Sinfonia Toronto’s concerts are regularly recorded for broadcast on the CBC programs Music Around Us and Symphony Hall.
Sinfonia Toronto maintains an active schedule of outreach concerts. It has brought the joy and excitement of live music to Toronto students from pre-schools through high schools, community centres, seniors’ groups, the Hospital for Sick Children, and to thousands of Torontonians at street festivals like the SummerCity Festival and the Junction Arts Festival. The orchestra works with a variety of social service organization to provide free tickets for the clients of many community agencies.
Sinfonia Toronto’s unique approach is to blend the virtuosity of musicians who all play with the energy and passion of soloists into one brilliant ensemble under Maestro Arman’s inspired direction. The musicians usually perform standing, like soloists, in the tradition of great European chamber orchestras.
Sinfonia Toronto’s performances have been acclaimed by critics. The Toronto Star wrote of “a remarkable range of colour,” “ample eloquence” and “gripping authority.” The Barrie Advance headlined “A Treasured Experience” and described a performance ranging from “tender longing” to “gusto.” The Toronto Star, again, praised Grieg’s Holberg Suite and the Dvorak Serenade, “both of which Arman led in an affectionate, unhurried manner, with an appreciation of their singing qualities,” while La Scena Musicale declared, “Nurhan Arman and his orchestra literally conquered us.”
Sinfonia Toronto released its first CD in 2004, featuring Mendelssohn’s Sinfonia No. 7, Shostakovich’s Sinfonia Op. 118a and Khachaturian’s Masquerade Suite arranged for string orchestra. A second CD will be produced in fall 2007 for the major label Marquis Classics. The orchestra’s world-premiere recording of a newly-rediscovered Bach aria, produced by the prestigious Analekta label, was released on iTunes.
I love your music... What passion... Thank you for accepting our invitation to My Space. We look forward to hearing more of your music. Kenny and Leah Soderblom