Sinfonia Toronto (= Toronto Sinfonia) performs its Masterpiece Series concerts in CBC's Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto. The orchestra travels to other Ontario centres for performances on regional concert series, and has also joined Canada’s leading choir, the Elmer Iseler Singers, for several oratorio performances. In addition to its Masterpiece Series Sinfonia Toronto performs a number of community outreach concerts. Many of Sinfonia Toronto’s Masterpiece Series concerts have been recorded for broadcast nationwide on 'Symphony Hall' and regionally on 'Music Around Us' on CBC Radio Two.
The core of Sinfonia Toronto consists of thirteen virtuoso strings. They perform standing, in the tradition of great chamber orchestras, blending each musician’s soloistic energy and passion into a brilliant ensemble style under Nurhan Arman’s inspired direction. A roster of Toronto’s finest woodwinds, brass and percussion joins the strings for programs drawn from the full range of chamber orchestra repertoire. Sinfonia Toronto’s performances have been acclaimed by critics in and outside Toronto. The Toronto Star writes 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 has collaborated with outstanding soloists of national and international reputation. Among those guest artists sharing the stage with Nurhan Arman and Sinfonia Toronto are pianists Andre Laplante, Janina Fialkowska, Richard Raymond, Jane Coop, Robert Silverman and Francine Kay; violinists Dmitri Berlinsky, Corey Cerovsek, Erika Raum, Scott St. John, Jasper Wood and Judy Kang; clarinetist Julian Milkis; sopranos Nathalie Paulin and Aline Kutan. |