Sinfonia Toronto, billed as one of Canada’s finest chamber orchestras, is coming to York to perform the music of Edward Elgar, Felix Mendelssohn and Leos Janácek, presented by Winters College Office of the Master.
Featuring music director and conductor Nurhan Arman, the chamber orchestra will perform at 5:30pm on Dec. 1 in the Winters College Dining Hall. Admission is free.
Sinfonia Toronto will perform Elgar’s Serenade Op. 20, Allegro Piacevole, Larghetto and Allegretto; Mendelssohn’s Sinfonia No. 10 in B minor, Adagio to Allegro; and Janácek’s Suite, Moderato, Adagio, Andante con moto, Presto, Adagio and Andante.
Left: Nurhan Arman leading Sinfonia Toronto
The Serenade Op. 20 first premiered in Antwerp, Belgium, in 1896 and is Elgar’s most complex and ambitious score to date. The central point of balance in the Serenade is the noble second movement, which is contrasted and framed by a lively Allegro and Allegretto. Mendelssohn wrote his symphony Sinfonia No. 10 in B minor with its menacing opening Adagio at the age of 14. There is speculation that some of the movements may have been lost. Janácek’s Suite is a bright and youthful work that highlights his Czech heritage, evident in the three-chord opening of the Moderato and the spirited lyricism that follows.
Born to Armenian parents in Istanbul, Arman was 13 years old when he played his first violin recital. After playing in concerts across the US as a soloist, he began conducting orchestras around the world. During the 2008-2009 season, Arman will guest conduct in Austria, Italy, Slovenia and the US.
Founded in 1998, Sinfonia Toronto, consisting of 13 virtuoso strings, has performed with Canada’s finest musicians and has premiered many new works. Its repertoire includes all of the major string orchestra works from Baroque to contemporary. In the tradition of great chamber orchestras, the musicians perform standing.
Anyone wishing to attend should RSVP to wcmaster@yorku.ca.