The jury of the prestigious Gramophone Classical Music Awards has announced Paavo Järvi and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony as the winner of this year’s Orchestral Award for their recording of the complete symphonies of Franz Schmidt.
Following a four-year restoration project, the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich and its Music Director Paavo Järvi are to perform in the Tonhalle in Zurich once again from 15 September. The concert hall has always been considered one of the best worldwide – acoustic measurements show that the sound is now even better than before.
Almost a year to the day when Paavo Järvi and the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich were scheduled to make their first tour together they have at last succeeded, with performances at the summer festivals of Schleswig Holstein, Graffenegg and Lucerne.
TONHALLE ORCHESTER ZÜRICH – SUMMER FESTIVAL TOUR
August 2021
Schumann: Piano Concerto
Schubert: Symphony No.8 ‘Great’
SCHLESWIG HOLSTEIN FESTIVAL:
“In the performance of Schubert’s ‘Great’ C major symphony, Järvi and his Zurich orchestra underscore the impression that was already apparent before the intermission: that they are a true dream team. Not only because of the phenomenal sound culture and discipline of the ensemble. But above all because they explore the vast landscapes of Schubert’s music with an irrepressible love of discovery … Paavo Järvi leads lovingly, tightly and naturally, breathing with his musicians and creating vivid contrasts. In doing so, he delights with a rich palette of colors. Especially the pianissimo is breathtaking and touches something deep inside us. Difficult to explain, but all the more clearly to be felt …”
Hamburger Abendblatt, Marcus Stäbler, 21 August 2021
“Paavo Järvi gives grandeur to the ‘C Major Symphony D 944′ to the musicians’ evident delight. In an all-around rapid tempo, interspersed with relentlessly surging worlds of impulse, an intoxicating buzz emerges, finely graduated in the homogeneous registers … In this form and constellation, the Tonhalle Orchestra can once again be counted among the best addresses in international orchestral culture.”
Kieler Nachrichten, Christian Strehk, 20 August 2021
“… an orchestra of irrepressible joy of playing, was always able to fulfill Järvi’s spirited tempo. Thus the audience experienced a wonderfully tuned Ninth by Schubert, the ‘Great’ in C major, which thus impressively complemented the series of Schubert compositions that the SHMF had focused on this year. Järvi was delighted, already passing on his joy at the orchestra’s performance as he played. This had an effect on the musicians, whose enjoyment of precision was increasingly evident. And it had an effect on the audience, who applauded for a long time and were gifted with a wonderfully tender ‘Valse triste’ by Sibelius.”
NMZ, 25 August 2021
GRAFFENEGG FESTIVAL:
“Schubert’s Great C Major Symphony … lasts 60 minutes, and the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich under Paavo Järvi interprets it as an ingenious panorama of Schubertian sounds and motifs, from the call of the horns at the beginning to the stormy gallop in the finale. In between, one hears sublime sounds of nature, rousing romantic élan, serenity and melancholy.”
Der Standard, Miriam Damev, 23 August 2021
“… Järvi let us hear why he is one of the most sought-after conductors …. The second movement was disturbing. He clearly set the general pause. It seemed like a pause, a reorientation. Softly, questioningly, the low strings continued in pizzicato. The dancelike sounded with verve. In the final movement, Järvi closed the circle.”
Der Kurier, Susanne Zöbl, 26 August 2021
LUCERNE FESTIVAL:
“Järvi constantly highlighted the contrasts of the score, with gentleritardandos and suddenaccelerandos, which made for exciting listening. Phrases were lovingly presented. The cathedral movement was full of grandeur, Järvi did not waver from a steady gait, maintaining power and tension.”
Seen and Heard International, John Rhodes, 26 August 2021
“In the middle movement, in which the demons of Schumann’s diabolical syphilis disease first whispered the theme of his very last ‘Ghost Variations’, the musicians find an intimacy and a quiet glow that reconciles even the last with the work: regardless of whether it is a product of the burgeoning madness – or merely a problematic piece.”
Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Christian Wildhagen, 27 August, 2021
“… the Tonhalle Orchestra gives the audience one of those moments where they can just sit back and submerge themselves.”
Schweiz am Wochenende, Luzerner Zeitung, Roman Kühne, 27 August 2021