Conductor

The Netherlands' conductor Arthur Arnold, Music Director and Conductor of the Symphony & Opera Academy of the Pacific (SOAP, Canada) made his debut with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam with soloists from the Bolshoi Theatre in the summer of 2001. It was a tremendous success, spawning the acclaim, "-Arthur Arnold: a promise- Arnold has a comfortable and extremely musical beat and maintains inspiring eye contact with the musicians", and earning this an immediate encore invitation for both Arnold and the orchestra a mere two weeks later. Upon performing expanded Russian repertoire, the national newspaper N.R.C. wrote: "Arthur Arnold radiates serenity and natural authority. He conducted the great repertoire in grand style and in tranquil tempi that allowed the typical Russian sound of the orchestra to flourish, thanks to an excellent balance Arnold succeeded to immediately achieve a great musical tension and thrilling atmosphere. The musical build up was magisterial." Soon after the successes in Amsterdam, Arnold was appointed principal guest conductor of the Moscow Symphony Orchestra. They were invited back to the Netherlands year after year and continue to delight audiences in Russia's famous Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory.

Arnold's talent remains in demand as he conducts orchestras throughout Europe, North America and Asia, including numerous repeat engagements in South Korea as guest conductor for the Seoul National Symphony Orchestra. In his home country, The Netherlands, Arnold has conducted the Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Arnhem Philharmonic Orchestra, the North Netherlands Orchestra, Holland Symfonia, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera Minora, the Raduga Ensemble and the Nieuw Ensemble. With them he toured to the 2002 Asian Contemporary Music Festival. Arnold is frequently featured in national radio interviews and performances, often performing with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra.

One of the highlights from last season was his debut with the Royal Flemish Philharmonic Orchestra with concerts in Belgium and The Netherlands. They were featured in the Concertgebouw Amsterdam with a national live radio broadcast. The Netherlands national newspaper Telegraaf wrote: "In the Concertgebouw of Amsterdam Arnold showed himself as a reputable orchestra leader. He conducted with authority and all of his gestures spoke emotion. In the sixth symphony of Tchaikovsky (Pathetique) Arnold was totally in control. The calm and natural build up gave all the space to the tragic undertone of this symphony. Moments of excitement could count on a measured dose, never becoming an empty fanfare. Even in the third movement the perspective was primarily intimate. The unbelievable happened: after this Allegro molto vivace the traditional applause didn't occur. Arnold held the tension and with perfect timing started the slow last movement. The lamenting was executed in golden honesty. At the end the conductor first thanked his musicians before turning towards the audience to receive the standing ovation with his hand on his heart."

Under his guidance as Music Director, the Symphony Orchestra of the Pacific and the Opera of the Pacific have grown in richness and breadth, motivating Arnold to invest an increasing portion of his time in Canada, where he also conducted the Victoria Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Glenn Gould School of Music. Arnold appears in the recently released musical film 'A Single Passion, A Thousand Voices', a documentary by Avanti
Pictures about the International Choral Festival 'Kathaumixw', for which he has been the Orchestra Conductor and a jury member since 2000.

In addition to the ongoing partnerships in Russia, The Netherlands, South Korea, and Canada, Arnold frequents Romania where he conducts the Transylvania State Philharmonic Orchestra and the Targu Mures State Philharmonic Orchestra. His conducting career has also spanned the countries of Italy, Great Britain, Poland and the United States. Future engagements include and invitation to the renowned Woodstock
Mozart Festival in the USA.

From 1997 - 2003 Arthur Arnold was the assistant conductor to the critically acclaimed Hans Vonk. He assisted the maestro with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra (USA), Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra Holland, the Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Netherlands Opera.