Sinfonia Toronto Presents Yuval Fichman in Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor 1/22/2010

Sinfonia Toronto's Masterpiece Series continues January 22nd at 8 pm, highlighting romantic pianism at its best, with a concert featuring Toronto piano virtuoso Yuval Fichman in Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor. 2010 marks the 200th anniversary since the birth of Chopin on March 1, 1810. The 2nd piano concerto was originally written in chamber music format, for touring purposes with Chopin himself at the keys; Maestro Arman has arranged this work for Sinfonia Toronto. He also arranged Ravel's String Quartet in F Major for chamber orchestra, and this concert will offer the world premiere of Ravel's Sinfonia in F Major. The concert opens with Harry Somers' well-known North Country.

Yuval Fichman made his debuts with the Montreal Symphony and the Toronto Symphony in 1982, and has continued to appear as a guest soloist with orchestras throughout Canada and the US. He performed with the MSO on its 1984 European tour and with the Vancouver Symphony on its 1985 Japanese tour. He has also performed for film soundtracks including Don McKellar's Last Night (music by Oscar-winning composer Howard Shore), Francois Girard's 32 Short Films about Glenn Gould and Larry Weinstein's Beethoven's Hair. In addition, Yuval Fichman has recorded a CD with cellist Yo-Yo Ma for Kabuki artist Tamasaburo Bando.

Yuval is known almost as well for his eloquence, sense of humour and distinct voice, by his own admission, as he is for his musical gifts. Regarding this concert, he says, "I'm quite excited about it! If I were able to go back in time, there is no one that I would want to meet more than Chopin, since he created the greatest vehicle for incorporating bel canto stylings on the piano. I think the Concerto No. 2 is one of the finest examples of this - this work is a gold mine of luscious musical filigree within some of the most soulful lyricism. Also, though Chopin isn't usually regarded as a master of large-scale works, I think the 2nd Concerto displays a great unified structure. I really look forward to performing it with Nurhan and Sinfonia Toronto. And it will be especially meaningful to play it in the first month of the 200th anniversary year of Chopin's birth!"

Tickets for this concert are $12 - $40 and are available through the Roy Thomson Hall box office at www.roythomson.com, 416-872-4255. Visit www.sinfoniatoronto.com for more information.
Saturday, February 13 at 7 PM: Gala event: Latin Lovers Ball at Arcadian Court

March 12: violinist Hyuk-Joo Kwun and pianist Hyejin Kim

April 9: pianist Heather Schmidt and violinist Xiaohan Guo

May 14: Premium Concert with cellist Shauna Rolston