Sinfonia Toronto is celebrating their 25th season with the announcement of the line-up for 2023-24. The season will blend the favourites of the classical repertoire with a series of world premieres in what has become the orchestra’s signature sound.

Music director Nurhan Arman commented in a statement, “All of us at Sinfonia Toronto are grateful for all the years of support by our loyal audiences in the GTA and throughout Ontario. From our early days onward, we have performed for Ontario audiences all over, from Sarnia to Sault Ste-Marie, Barrie to Brockville and many other wonderful communities.”

The new season programming is peppered with premieres. A series of short works were commissioned by Maestro Arman from composers from Canada, the U.S., Algeria, Armenia, France, Portugal and Ukraine to celebrate the orchestra’s silver anniversary.

Maestro Arman noted, “For next season we have invited back some of the great soloists our orchestra enjoyed making music with, who have also been favourites with our audiences. To give just a few examples, we will begin the season with violinist Elisso Gogibedaschwili. This amazing violinist was just 13 years old when she made her Canadian debut with us. Today, she is an international star, performing all over the world with major orchestras and prominent chamber musicians. Toronto pianist Dmitri Levkovich also has appeared with us several times, always with long ovations from our audiences. Our international guest artists are invited with a view to establishing ties with Canadian composers. The great Italian flutist Mario Carbotta has played Canadian composers John Weinzweig and Michael Baker here, then in Europe. Luisa Sello, another superb Italian flutist returning next season, has commissioned Toronto composer Chan Ka Nin to write a piece for her, to premiere here and in Italy.”

The orchestra’s concerts are divided between downtown and uptown Toronto in two venues.

Here’s the season at a glance

A Glorious Intersection

This concert blends iconic Beethoven with a world premiere, with violinist Elisso Gogibedaschwili as soloist.

Louis Salter: Regard de l’anniversaire XXV World premiere
Frank Horvat: Magnificent Roots World premiere
Taktakishvili: Violin Concerto No. 2 Canadian premiere
Sarasate: Gypsy Airs
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5, arr. Sreten Krstič Canadian premiere

Pictures At An Exhibition

Along with Mussorgsky’s crowd pleasing work, the program showcases work that evokes place. Flutist Luisa Sello will be the soloist.

Alexandar Simic: In Memoriam Canadian premiere
Chan Ka Nin: Donas de Fuera (Women from the outside) World premiere
Ezio Monti: Rugiada – Elegy for Flute in G Canadian premiere
Vivaldi: Flute Concerto Opus 10 No. 5
Amine Soufari: Reminiscences World premiere
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition

Friday, November 10, 2023 at Trinity St-Paul’s Centre

Schumann & Dvorak

Two giants of Romanticism are on this bill, with cellist Stéphane Tétreault as the concert’s soloist.

Irina Grafova: Odessa Waltz and Dedication World premiere
Norma Beecroft: Fantasy for strings
Schumann: Cello Concerto
Corelli: Christmas Concerto
Dovrak: The Cypresses

Friday, December 8, 2023 at the Jane Mallett Theatre

Mozart & Janacek

Mozart’s impeccable classicism is juxtaposed with Jancek’s folk energy, along with a world premiere, with pianist Demitri Levkovich.

Kevork Andonian: In Festive Commemoration World premiere
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 23, K 488
Jean Coulthard: A Winter’s Tale
Janacek: Idyll

Friday, January 26, 2024 at Trinity St-Paul’s Centre

Schumann & De Falla

Andalusian Spanish composer Manuel De Falla emigrated from Spain to Argentina — one of the composers featured on a program that takes listeners from France to Germany, Italy, Russia, and Spain. Two guest soloists contribute: mezzo-soprano Beste Kalender and pianist Antonio Cristofano.

Schumann Piano Concerto
Respighi: Il tramonto (The Sunset)
De Falla: Seven Popular Spanish Songs
Arensky: Variations on a Theme of Tchaikovsky

Saturday, March 2, 2024 at George Weston Recital Hall

Mozart’s Spring

A hopeful concert of lyrical classics, with soloists Sharon Wei at the viola, and flutist Mario Carbotta.

Nina Grigoryan: Prayer World premiere
Marjan Mozetich: Viola Concerto
Mercadante: Flute Concerto in E Minor
Mozart: String Quartet No.14 K. 387 “Spring”

Friday, April 12, 2024 at Trinity St-Paul’s Centre

Viva Violins

With two soloists — violinists Jannis Georgiadis and Christos Galileas — the instrument is showcased in words by Bach, Arnold, and Tchaikovsky.

Bach: Double Concerto in D minor
Malcolm Arnold: Concerto for Two Violins Canadian premiere
Stanley Grill: Artemis, Her Silver Bow World premiere
Tchaikovsky: Serenade

Saturday, May 4, 2024 at George Weston Recital Hall

Tickets to the 2023-24 season are on sale now.

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Anya Wassenberg

Anya Wassenberg is a Toronto City Editor at Ludwig Van. She is an experienced freelance writer, blogger and writing instructor.