Toronto, ON, September 18, 2023 – Sinfonia Toronto will open their 25th Anniversary season on October 21, 8 pm in George Weston Recital Hall with a concert titled BEETHOVEN’S FIFTH! Music Director Nurhan Arman will conduct.
The evening’s soloist will be virtuoso violinist Elisso Gogibedaschwili, acclaimed by Sinfonia Toronto audiences in several previous seasons. Elisso was just 13 when she made her Canadian debut with Sinfonia Toronto. Now an international star performing throughout Europe, she will play the Canadian premiere of Otar Taktakishvili’s Violin Concerto No. 2, a vivid work reminiscent of Shostakovich, plus one of the most popular violin showpieces of all time, Zigeunerweisen, “Gypsy Airs.”
The new season will celebrate the orchestra’s tradition of presenting new works contrasted with Classical and Romantic favourites.
The concert will begin with two world premieres, Louis Sauter’s Regard de l’anniversaire XXV and Toronto composer Frank Horvat’s Magnificent Roots, paying tribute to both Toronto’s oldest tree and Toronto’s cultural life. Horvat explains “I feel we should pay homage and celebrate this tree’s achievements just as much as any humans who have graced this city… It is an honour to use the composition of Magnificent Roots to also celebrate this special anniversary for an important Toronto cultural institution.”
The concert’s grand finale will be one of the most famous pieces in history, Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Sinfonia Toronto will give the North American premiere of a new string orchestra version, masterfully arranged by Sreten Krstič, leader of the renowned chamber orchestra I Solisti di Zagreb.
Violinist Elisso Gogibedaschwili began winning competitions at six, launched her concerto career at ten and played the challenging Sibelius concerto with the Munich Symphony when she was twelve. The only violinist invited to perform at the 2021 Bayreuth Summer Festival, Elisso is also a skilled collaborator, performing chamber music with artists like the legendary pianist Bruno Canino. She has concertized throughout Europe, North America and China.
Nurhan Arman has conducted in 24 countries in Europe, Asia, South America, Canada and the US, returning regularly to many orchestras in Europe. He starts his 2023-24 season with a fourth return to Austria’s Arpeggione Kammerorchester, a return to the Filarmonica Italiana and the Naonis & Donatello Ensemble. He concluded a busy 2022-23 season with concerts in Montreal, Greece, the Republic of Georgia and Italian orchestras in Grad and Livorno, Italy.
Sinfonia Toronto has toured in Europe, the US, South America and China, receiving glowing reviews. It has released six CD’s, including a JUNO Award winner. The orchestra plays annually in Barrie and performs in many other Ontario cities. Its extensive repertoire includes all the major string orchestra works of the 18th through 21st centuries, and it has premiered many new works. Under the baton of Nurhan Arman, the orchestra’s performances present outstanding international guest artists and prominent Canadian musicians. Sinfonia Toronto is supported by operating grants from the Canada Council, Toronto Arts Council and Ontario Arts Council.
Tickets for the October 21 concert are available from sinfoniatoronto.com
