Arman's hard work in building relationships
with young composers, quality soloists and careful ensemble playing paid off
handsomely this season...
John Terauds THE TORONTO STAR
May 2009
Sinfonia Toronto is now coming to the
forefront of the genre that has been hitherto dominated by the Thirteen
Strings and the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra. Under the deft leadership of
founder Nurhan Arman, this ensemble has accuracy with depth and passion and
just must be heard.
John S. Gray THE WHOLENOTE December 2008
A World-Class
Ensemble (headline)
In the five movements shaped with perfecting
care Nurhan Arman provided his standing ensemble with conducting gestures
that were sharp-edged, soft, flowing and always playful. With a joyful
sprint with the witty score he served Dvorák as a lighthearted, feel-good
package. Agility, verve and temperament, full of feeling in the quieter
lyrical sections pulsated this reading with life and made it clear that
Sinfonia Toronto was an ensemble of world class.
Albrecht Schmidt
RUSSELHEIMER ECHO November 2008
What was heard
was truly rewarding, as quality of this calibre has not been heard here for
a long time; the quality of the standing ensemble’s performance was
impressively high.
Johannes Mundry
HESSICH NIEDERSACHSISCHE ALLGEMEINE
November 2008
To start with
the audience heard the Serenade in E-Major Opus 20 by Elgar. This piece was
performed by an ensemble from Prague in the Furstensaal a few days ago. But
how different the work sounded this time: the three movements unfolded their
themes with a wealth of lyrical expression, filling the hall with full
string sound and still maintaining the clarity of the structure.” spirited
yet sensitive leadership….. Conductor makes magic.
Mikolaus Frey FULDAER ZEITUNG November 2008
Sinfonia Toronto
is a real success, satisfying even the most demanding musical
connoisseurs.
Burkard Battran NEUE WESTFALISCHE NEWS
November
2008
Conductor Nurhan
Arman directed and guided his musicians through the idiosyncratic and
challenging score with almost boundless energy. The interpretation we heard
was the result of intensive rehearsals paying attention to inner details and
it was sensitive, committed and well thought-out.
Peter Ernst
WESTFALLEN BLATT
November 2008
This compelllng
interpretation (Tchaikovsky’s Serenade) formed a final high point of this
evening.”
Karin
Pfeifer
BERGSTRAZER ANZEIGER
November 2008
Lightly and
intensely, the orchestra played with great consistency. Silvery soft
passages whirled through the church, the musicians thoroughly delighted in
sweet sections. The characters of individual phrases were vividly conveyed -
such as the sparkling Presto, a lyrical Adagio or the demanding and dramatic
intensely interpreted final Andante.
Daniel
Honsack
RHEIN MAIN PRESSE
November 2008
In the Suite for String Orchestra by Leos
Janacek and in the Serenade for strings by Antonin Dvorak - there was ample
momentum and passion, they were played with perfect string sonority and
technique and were propelled forward by a spirited conductor.
FLORSHEIM ZEITUNG
November 2008
It was the last
concert of the 32nd season for Friends of Music and for us, their abiding
fans. Sinfonia Toronto, directed by Nurhan Arman, performed a wonderful
program of Liszt, Mozart, Bach and Dvorak; they seemed to enjoy it as much
as we did. After the concert they mingled with the audience at the wine and
cheese party upstairs at the Capitol and helped with the cake-cutting
ceremony to celebrate the 32nd anniversary of Friends of Music.
NORTHUMBERLAND TODAY, Port Hope, April 2007
Quel beau choix de répertoire pour ce premier
disque de l’ensemble torontois: on a misé sur le charme et la fraîcheur, et
le son est très soigné.
ESPACE MUSIQUE RADIO CANADA January 2005
Arman gave a
wonderful interpretation of the score, with marvelous phrasing, attention to
the fi8nest details of dynamics, contrasting moods, beautifully fluid loines
throughout...Their playing on this occasion was thrilling.
THE EXAMINER,
Peterborough, October 2004 `
Arman has a
reputation for bringing audiences to their collective feet on three
continents. And Barrie was no different. The audience gave the Sinfonia
Toronto a standing ovation after its final selection, Dvorak’s Serenade.
BARRIE EXAMINER May 2004
The large audience enjoyed an interesting program ranging from the classical
to the romantic…Perfect ensemble and sensitive dynamic variation were the
hallmarks of this performance. Conductor Nurhan Arman lead the 14 string
players through this light but charming work in skillful fashion. The final
Presto, with its witty brilliance, was particularly effective. There was
freshness and enthusiasm in this performance.
Kudos to
everyone concerned for bringing this ensemble… to Lindsay. It was certainly
a great start to the new concert season.
THE DAILY POST,
Lindsay, October 2003
An exceptional concert, a big success!
ABAKA HEBDOMADAIRE CANADIEN, Montréal,
January 2003
Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor was performed in a new
arrangement for string orchestra by Sinfonia's conductor Nurhan Arman, with
Robert Silverman as soloist...one seldom missed full orchestral colours in
Arman's arrangement.
THE TORONTO STAR, May 2002
"Sinfonia Toronto’s Elegant Musical Palette" (headline)
"Wolf-Ferrari's highly expressive ‘Serenade’ now dashes, now meanders
through apparently countless motifs and changes of mood... The orchestra,
however, was more than ready for such demanding work which, like the rest of
the concert, required stringent technical mastery and finely tuned musical
sensitivity."
"(Eine Kleine Nachtmusik’s) perfection demands perfection of all who
perform it. Sinfonia Toronto captures and polishes lovingly every facet of
this Mozartian gem."
"Tchaikovsky seems to draw undreamed-of nuances and powers from stringed
instruments. Sinfonia Toronto translated this extraordinary composition into
an unforgettable performance."
MUSKOKA TIMES, April 2001
Sinfonia
Toronto has made big strides since it was formed in 1999, and future
prospects are good...The orchestra brought a remarkable range of colour to
these ideas, which are startlingly direct and sharp-edged, yet still retain
ample eloquence. The musicians’
ferocious attack contrasted well with passages of repose, and they played
throughout with gripping authority.
THE TORONTO STAR, March 2001
And the winner was...in a photo finish, the Elmer Iseler Singers and
Sinfonia Toronto under Lydia Adams at St. James by a nose - make that an ear
- over Tafelmusik’s vocal and instrumental wings.... Far in the rear was the
Toronto Symphony Orchestra-Mendelssohn Choir combo... a silken overture with
singing strings... the orchestra
punctuated the singing purposefully.
THE TORONTO STAR, December 2000
(Messiah with the Elmer Iseler Singers)
Part three... came to a climax with a glorious
full-da-capo performance of the aria ‘The trumpet shall sound’ by Mark Pedrotti,
Stuart Laughton and the orchestra.
THE GLOBE AND MAIL, December 2000
Sinfonia
Toronto, conducted by Nurhan Arman, brought the Four Seasons to life,
interpreting all of the emotions... Songbirds sang and the flowers almost
started to grow... The Barrie
Concerts audience gave Sinfonia Toronto a standing ovation.
THE BARRIE EXAMINER, November 2000
A
treasured experience" (headline) Nurhan Arman conducted the Sinfonia with
great flexibility and care. It was evident from his physical movements that
the music was in his soul – at times it appeared as though he was going to
dance...Sinfonia rendered all [Corelli’s Sarabande, Gigue and Badinerie]
with accuracy, liveliness and gentility...Souvenir de Florence was full
of tender longing...the final
adieu was ushered in with gusto
THE BARRIE ADVANCE, November 2000
Nurhan Arman and his orchestra literally conquered us...Janina Fialkowska gave a truly inspired interpretation, well supported
by Sinfonia Toronto.
LA SCENA MUSICALE, November 2000
the
playing had spirit...Grieg’s Holberg Suite and Dvorak’s Serenade – both of
which Arman led in an affectionate, unhurried manner, with an appreciation
of their singing qualities...there is no better way to put an audience in a
relaxed and receptive frame of mind than Conductor Nurhan Arman’s affable
remarks introducing each selection...here’s to success for Sinfonia Toronto.
William Littler THE TORONTO STAR, November 1999
Sinfonia Toronto,
the bright new kid of the string-orchestra world.
THE GLOBE AND MAIL, October 1999
Sinfonia Toronto Makes Solid Debut" – headline...skillful weaving through complex musical mazes...precise technique...vivid colour
and textures.. under Arman’s direction it has the chance to become a key
player in Toronto’s musical elite.
THE TORONTO STAR, October 1999
