On 9 April, Alpha Classics releases the second CD in Paavo Järvi and the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich’s complete Tchaikovsky cycle. Symphonies Nos 2 & 4 were performed and recorded at Tonhalle Maag at the start of Järvi’s first season as Chief Conductor, before corona virus brought the music to a grounding halt.
The planned livestream of Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream this Friday, March 26, 2021 has sadly had to be cancelled. A person close to the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich has tested positive for Covid-19. There are no further positive cases among the musicians, Paavo Järvi and the management team. However, due to quarantine measures, the orchestra cannot continue this week’s rehearsals and recordings.
After weeks of hiatus, Paavo Järvi and the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich are back together for visual and audio recordings of the Mendelssohn cycle planned for this season. The culmination of this creative phase will be Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which will be broadcast live on 26th March in the IDAGIO Global Concert Hall.
BERLIN PHILHARMONIC – MARCH 2021
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No.5 with Igor Levit
PROKOFIEV: Symphony No.6
“…this is a lithe, joyous Beethoven “Emperor” Concerto, only fitfully grandiose when the passing moment requires. The orchestra under Järvi is as supple and winged as Levit in his solo passages, and this is that rare thing, a true concerto partnership.”
The Arts Desk, David Nice, 9 March 2021
“The score [of Prokofiev’s 6th Symphony] not only requires a cohesive orchestra with extraordinary principal players, but also a conductor with a strong hand and a deep understanding of the circumstances in which the work was created. Paavo Järvi rose to the occasion. He did not seek easy effects, but carefully constructed a firm structure, emphasising continuity.”
Bachtrack.com, Edward Sava-Segal, 8 March 2021
“…At the rostrum, Järvi brought out all the symphonism of the ‘Emperor’ Concerto to life, especially in the second idea, and as Levit began playing, all the intimacy of the music emerged – sounding almost aristocratic in his music-making.”
Seenandheard-international.com, Gregor Tassie, 7 March 2021
“A concert in the major and minor of E-flat, Paavo Järvi, wisdom, experience and humanity to the fore, bringing to the mix insightful cameos of relaxed after-dinner conversationalist and urbane historical commentator… This was an epic reading [of Prokofiev Symphony No.6], powerful it its profundity, theatre and tension. Russian novel, torn apart history, games and pranks, sarcasm and ballet all rolled into one intense canvas. The Berliners responded magnificently, gold-plated at every turn, safe in their excellence, safe in the hands of a master conductor. Not a journey I would have wanted to miss.”
Colinscolumn.com, Ates Orga, 8 March 2021
“Paavo Järvi beglückt die Berliner Philharmoniker und uns digitale Zuhörer mit einem unverbindlichen Beethoven. Der tönt flott, beweglich, aufregend, dynamisch wunderbar flexibel und vor allem zackig und schlank. Aber auch leichtgewichtig und nur scheinbar konfrontativ.”
Konzertkritikopernkritikberlin.com, 8 March 2021
Paavo Järvi joins forces with the Berlin Philharmonic this week for a concert which will be streamed live on the orchestra’s Digital Concert Hall platform on Saturday 6 March at 19.00 CET.
Featured on the programme are Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.5 with soloist Igor Levit and Prokofiev’s Symphony No.6.
Buy your ticket here