I am delighted to welcome you to the 2009-2010 season of Orchestra Toronto! If you are a past subscriber, you are aware of the high standards to which the musicians of this community orchestra hold themselves. If you are new to us, I think you will be pleasantly surprised at what can be accomplished by truly motivated instrumentalists, performing in an acoustically superb venue.

 

In the past several seasons, we have presented many “unfamiliar” works along with orchestral “chestnuts”. We thought that in the upcoming season we would adjust that balance to emphasize clearly the “familiar”. Consequently, you will hear on each concert a well-known symphony—some by the “B’s”: Bruckner, Brahms, Beethoven; one each by Dvořak and Shostakovich.

 

Most of the works during the season were suggested by orchestra members. I have combined these choices with what I hope are interesting and complementary works by Canadians Malcolm Forsyth and Michael Conway Baker; and by Beethoven, Vanhal, von Weber, Schumann, and Rachmaninoff .

 

You will be thrilled by our roster of soloists: Joel Quarrington (Principal Bass, National Arts Centre Orchestra; former Principal Bass, Toronto Symphony); the young pianist Xiaoping Ma; Jason Li (semifi nalist in the Tchaikovsky and Gina Bachauer piano competitions); and violist Kinji Fusé (Principal of the Victoria Symphony, and son of Orchestra Toronto’s oboe and English horn player, Lois Fusé, who will perform the extensive English horn solo part in Harold in Italy).

 

Great music! Stellar soloists! An accomplished orchestra! How better to spend a Sunday afternoon than with Orchestra Toronto?!

 

Errol Gay, Musical Director

Errol Gay

Orchestra Toronto is one of Canada's premier community volunteer symphony orchestras, dedicated to providing affordable family entertainment, music education and full repertoire in all its programs