Mozart & Janáček: Winter Warmth

Sinfonia Toronto will create winter warmth with music at their “Mozart and Janáček” concert on January 26 at the Trinity St-Paul’s Centre.

Ukrainian-Canadian Pianist Dmitri Levkovich, a soloist enthusiastically received by the orchestra’s audience in 2021, returns to play Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23.  Dmitri brings an “artistic sophistication far above the ordinary” (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung) to his interpretation.

With Music Director Nurhan Arman at the helm, the orchestra will perform Leoš Janáček’s Idyll for Strings. Composed to celebrate the birth of his daughter, it captures the feelings of love, happiness, and warmth that marked this period of his life.

The program also includes Canadian composer Jean Coulthard’s Ballade, A Winter’s Tale. Coulthard was one of the first Canadian female composers and one of the first composers from the west coast to gain worldwide recognition. The orchestra continues to celebrate its 25th anniversary with the world premiere of In Festive Commemoration by Kevork Andonian, the eighth premiere of the season.

Dmitri Levkovich honed his piano skills under the guidance of Sergei Babayan for 11 years and studied composition at the Curtis Institute of Music. Renowned for exceptional artistry, Dmitri has garnered praise for his “profound musical understanding” (American Record Guide). He is the winner of over a dozen top awards from international competitions, including the Cleveland, Jose Iturbi, and Gina Bachauer Competitions. Performing worldwide, from the Berlin Philharmonie to Carnegie Hall he has built a diverse repertoire. His compositions have gained wide recognition, with upcoming performances by the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra and the Verbier Festival.

Nurhan Arman has conducted in 24 countries in Europe, Asia, South America, Canada, and the US, returning regularly to many orchestras in Europe. He concluded a busy 2022-23 season with concerts in Montreal, Greece, the Republic of Georgia and Italian orchestras in Friuli and Tuscany and will open his 2023-24 season with a fourth return to the Arpeggione Chamber Orchestra in Austria.

Sinfonia Toronto has toured twice in Europe, in 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.