CELLO SUPERSTAR - Sinfonia Toronto Masterpiece Concert October 27, 2012

TCHAIKOVSKY GOLD MEDALLIST OPENS SINFONIA TORONTO SEASON

The extraordinary young cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan’s impassioned performance won top prize at the 2011 Tchaikovsky International Competition. His Toronto début will launch Sinfonia Toronto’s new season on Saturday, October 27 in the George Weston Recital Hall. The orchestra’s Music Director Nurhan Arman will step onto the podium in the Toronto Centre for the Arts at 8 pm to conduct a varied program ranging from Mozart to Khachaturian.

An instant sensation as he won the Gold Medal in Moscow, Narek Hakhnazaryan will perform Haydn’s sparkling Cello Concerto in C Major and also Paganini’s Moses Variations, a virtuoso showpiece which will give his spectacular technique full range. Other works on the program include Arutunian’s brilliant Sinfonietta and Khachaturian’s colourful Masquerade Suite.

Hailed as a “seasoned phenom” by the Washington Post, Narek has already appeared with the Chicago Symphony, the London Symphony, the Mariinsky Orchestra conducted by Valery Gergiev and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. Mentored by the late Mstislav Rostropovich, Narek was the only cellist invited to tour on behalf of the Rostropovich Foundation, performing under its patronage in Russia, Germany, Austria, France, Great Britain, Greece, Turkey, and Canada. Emerging as one of the most significant cellists on the world stage, Narek has performed throughout the US, Europe and Asia, including concerts at Paris’s Salle Pleyel, Berlin’s Konzerthaus, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw and Tokyo’s Suntory Hall.

Now entering its 14th season, Sinfonia Toronto has toured in Europe twice, receiving glowing reviews. It has released four CD’s including a JUNO winner, and performs in many Ontario cities. Its rich repertoire includes the string orchestra music of the 19th and 20th century, and it has premiered many new works. Under the baton of Nurhan Arman the orchestra’s performances feature outstanding international artists and some of the most sought-after Canadian musicians.

Nurhan Arman is a popular guest conductor in Europe. He has conducted throughout Europe, Asia, South America, Canada and the United States. Among the many orchestras Maestro Arman has conducted are the Moscow Philharmonic, Deutsches Kammerorchester Frankfurt, Filarmonica Italiana, St. Petersburg State Hermitage Orchestra, Orchestre Regional d’Ile de France, Hungarian Symphony, Milano Classica, Belgrade Philharmonic and others.

Tickets are $49 adult; $39 senior and $19 student. They can be purchased by phone from Ticketmaster toll-free at 1-855-985-ARTS (2787) or online at http://www.tocentre.com/georgeweston/sinfoniatorontogala
Subscriptions to the 7-concert Masterpiece Series are $189 adult; $169 senior and $99 student
at http://www.sinfoniatoronto.com/ or from 416-499-0403 with an additional $10 per subscription for phone orders.

Details at a glance:
Saturday, October 27, 2012; 8 pm George Weston Recital Hall (5040 Yonge Street)
SINFONIA TORONTO / NURHAN ARMAN, Conductor
NAREK HAKHNAZARYAN, Cellist
Program
MOZART Divertimento K 136
HAYDN Cello Concerto in C
PAGANINI Moses Variations
ARUTUNIAN Sinfonietta
KHACHATURIAN Masquerade Suite
Tickets $49 adult; $39 senior; $19 student
Ticketmaster toll free at 1-855-985-ARTS (2787) or http://www.tocentre.com/georgeweston/sinfoniatorontogala

Official Website: http://www.tocentre.com/georgeweston/sinfoniatorontogala