The International Classical Music Awards (ICMA) have named Paavo Järvi and the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich’s recording of Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 the best ‘Symphonic Music’ recording of 2025.
Announcing the award, the ICMA jury praised the interpretation for standing confidently alongside the great recordings of the past. ‘Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 is one of the most significant Romantic masterpieces and has countless excellent recordings, including some iconic ones from Bernstein to Rattle,’ the jury stated. ‘Nevertheless, the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich and Paavo Järvi manage to stand alongside their great predecessors as one of the best. The performance is characterized by unparalleled precision, wonderful harmony, and perfectly judged tempos, but it is mainly thanks to its arc that this monumental 70-minute work never lets the listener’s attention wander for a single moment.’
This release marked the first recording issued in the orchestra’s Mahler cycle and had already received the German Record Critics’ Award (3/25). Two years earlier, the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich and Paavo Järvi were also honored with an ICMA Award for their recording of Bruckner’s Symphony No. 8, further underscoring the artistic success of their ongoing collaboration.
The International Classical Music Awards are among the most prestigious global honors in classical music, recognizing outstanding recordings and performances across a wide range of categories. Founded in 2011 as the successor to the Cannes Classical Awards, the ICMA jury comprises 20 leading music critics from major international magazines and radio stations.