More about your concert

Your evening with us doesn't have to start in the concert hall. Discover our introductory events around your concert visit - live or online.

To find out which concerts will feature accompanying events, please see the concert calendar.

Short introductions

You want to go to the concert well prepared with the most important facts about the programme? We have designed the new short introduction for you, in which the most important facts about the works performed are presented briefly, compactly and clearly.

The short introduction begins 30 minutes before the concert and lasts 15 minutes. It takes place in the concert foyer.

We offer a short introduction at the following concerts:

june
Thu 19. Jun
19.30

Cancelled: Franz Welser-Möst & Iurii Samoilov

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Limmie Pulliam Tenor, Iurii Samoilov Bariton, Hendrik Heilmann Klavier Messiaen, Mahler
Fri 20. Jun
19.30

New: Jonathan Nott & Iurii Samoilov

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Jonathan Nott Conductor, Limmie Pulliam Tenor, Iurii Samoilov Bariton, Hendrik Heilmann Klavier Messiaen, Mahler
Thu 26. Jun
19.30

Jakub Hrůša & Leonidas Kavakos

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Jakub Hrůša Conductor, Leonidas Kavakos Violine Schostakowitsch, Strawinsky
november
Sat 01. Nov
18.30

Freundeskreis Concert

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Alondra de la Parra Leitung, Avi Avital Mandoline Prokofjew, Sollima, Márquez
Sun 02. Nov
17.00

Alondra de la Parra & Avi Avital

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Alondra de la Parra Leitung, Avi Avital Mandoline Prokofjew, Sollima, Márquez
december
Wed 17. Dec
19.30

Florian Helgath mit Mendelssohns «Paulus»

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Florian Helgath Leitung, Christina Landshamer Sopran, Anke Vondung Alt, Werner Güra Tenor, Michael Volle Bass, Zürcher Sing-Akademie, Mendelssohn Bartholdy
Thu 18. Dec
19.30

Florian Helgath with Mendelssohn's "Paulus"

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Florian Helgath Leitung, Christina Landshamer Sopran, Anke Vondung Alt, Werner Güra Tenor, Michael Volle Bass, Zürcher Sing-Akademie, Mendelssohn Bartholdy
january
Fri 30. Jan
19.30

Paavo Järvi & Hélène Grimaud

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Hélène Grimaud Klavier Janáček, Gershwin, Sibelius
Sat 31. Jan
18.30

Paavo Järvi & Hélène Grimaud

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Hélène Grimaud Klavier Janáček, Gershwin, Sibelius
february
Wed 25. Feb
19.30

Jaap van Zweden & Sol Gabetta

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Jaap van Zweden Leitung, Sol Gabetta Violoncello Lalo, Bruckner
march
Wed 11. Mar
19.30

Paavo Järvi & Janine Jansen

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Janine Jansen Violine Adès, Bruch, Mendelssohn Bartholdy
Thu 12. Mar
19.30

Paavo Järvi & Janine Jansen

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Janine Jansen Violine Adès, Bruch, Mendelssohn Bartholdy
Thu 19. Mar
19.30

Paavo Järvi & Hilary Hahn

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Hilary Hahn Violine Mahler, Honegger, Schostakowitsch
Fri 20. Mar
19.30

Paavo Järvi & Hilary Hahn

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Hilary Hahn Violine Mahler, Honegger, Schostakowitsch
april
Thu 23. Apr
19.30

Marie Jacquot & Augustin Hadelich

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Marie Jacquot Leitung, Augustin Hadelich Violine Adès, Beethoven, Mussorgsky
june
Sat 06. Jun
18.30

Andrés Orozco-Estrada & Sol Gabetta

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Andrés Orozco-Estrada Leitung, Sol Gabetta Violoncello Strauss, Martinů, Tschaikowsky
Sun 07. Jun
17.00

Andrés Orozco-Estrada & Sol Gabetta

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Andrés Orozco-Estrada Leitung, Sol Gabetta Violoncello Strauss, Martinů, Tschaikowsky
Wed 17. Jun
19.30

Paavo Järvi & Igor Levit

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Igor Levit Klavier Brahms, Schumann
Thu 18. Jun
19.30

Paavo Järvi & Igor Levit

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Igor Levit Klavier Brahms, Schumann
Fri 19. Jun
19.30

Gala concert Freundeskreis

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Igor Levit Klavier Brahms, Schumann
june
Fri 06. Jun
19.30

Paavo Järvi with Mozart

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director Mozart
Thu 05. Jun
19.30

Paavo Järvi with Mozart

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director Mozart

Introduction – the classic

For those who would like to know more about the works performed, there are spoken introductions to several concerts each season. Musicologists talk about the compositions and the period in which they were written, and explain the musical and historical context. Sound samples will get you in the mood for the programme.

The Introduction begins 45 minutes before the concert and lasts 20 to 30 minutes. It takes place at the Kleine Tonhalle.

We offer an introduction at the following concerts:

november
Thu 13. Nov
19.30

Paavo Järvi with Mahler

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Mari Eriksmoen Sopran, Anna Lucia Richter Mezzosopran, Zürcher Sing-Akademie, Florian Helgath Einstudierung Mahler
Fri 14. Nov
19.30

Paavo Järvi with Mahler

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Mari Eriksmoen Sopran, Anna Lucia Richter Mezzosopran, Zürcher Sing-Akademie, Florian Helgath Einstudierung Mahler
february
Fri 06. Feb
19.30

Marek Janowski & Tabea Zimmermann

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Marek Janowski Leitung, Tabea Zimmermann Viola Hindemith, Brahms
may
Sat 09. May
18.30

Paavo Järvi & María Dueñas

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, María Dueñas Violine Korngold, Bruckner
Sun 10. May
17.00

Paavo Järvi & María Dueñas

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, María Dueñas Violine Korngold, Bruckner

Surprise with ZHdK students

Five times each season, Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) students provide a musical introduction to the concert.
These half-hour chamber music «pre-programmes» refer to the works performed at the concert itself.

The Suprise starts at 6.30 p.m at the Kleine Tonhalle. It will take place at the following concerts:

january
Thu 15. Jan
19.30

András Schiff with Bach and Beethoven

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Sir András Schiff Leitung, Klavier Bach, Beethoven, Lutosławski, Bartók
february
Thu 05. Feb
19.30

Marek Janowski & Tabea Zimmermann

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Marek Janowski Leitung, Tabea Zimmermann Viola Hindemith, Brahms
Thu 26. Feb
19.30

Jaap van Zweden & Sol Gabetta

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Jaap van Zweden Leitung, Sol Gabetta Violoncello Lalo, Bruckner
march
Wed 18. Mar
19.30

Paavo Järvi & Hilary Hahn

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Hilary Hahn Violine Mahler, Honegger, Schostakowitsch
may
Fri 08. May
19.30

Paavo Järvi & María Dueñas

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, María Dueñas Violine Schumann, Korngold, Tschaikowsky

Prélude – Introduction to contemporary music

Let us smooth the way to fascinating new works in the repertoire. At our Préludes, we familiarise you with a specific work from the evening programme. Presenters from SRF 2 Kultur moderate discussions with the composer or performers, and music students from Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) present excerpts.

The Prélude begins at 6 p.m. in the Kleine Tonhalle and lasts for one hour. It will take place at the following concerts:

september
Thu 25. Sep
19.30

Paavo Järvi & Ksenija Sidorova

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Ksenija Sidorova Akkordeon Pärt, Kõrvits, Vasks, Pärt, Mozart
october
Thu 23. Oct
19.30

Cristian Măcelaru & Martin Fröst

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Cristian Măcelaru Leitung, Martin Fröst Klarinette Clyne, Prokofjew
january
Wed 21. Jan
19.30

Paavo Järvi & Kirill Gerstein

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Kirill Gerstein Klavier Adès, Rachmaninow, Bartók
february
Fri 20. Feb
19.30

Sonic Matter: Pierre-André Valade & Leila Josefowicz

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Pierre-André Valade Leitung, Leila Josefowicz Violine Kendall, Adès, Chin
march
Thu 05. Mar
19.30

Franz Welser-Möst with Adès and Strauss

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Franz Welser-Möst Leitung Adès, Strauss
april
Thu 16. Apr
19.30

Kent Nagano with Messiaen

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Kent Nagano Leitung, Yury Favorin Klavier, Nathalie Forget Ondes Martenot Messiaen

Finale with Ilona Schmiel and guests

After the concert, artistic director Ilona Schmiel welcomes the conductor, soloist, composer or other guest as well as concertgoers for a talk. Experience an assessment immediately after the respective concert event, a description of personal experiences in the artistic working process and learn more about future projects of the respective artists and guests.

The Ausklang begins directly after the concert in the concert foyer and lasts about 30 minutes. The Ausklang will take place after the following concerts:

september
Fri 19. Sep
19.30

Season opening with Paavo Järvi & Sol Gabetta

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Sol Gabetta Violoncello Adès, Schostakowitsch, Rachmaninow
october
Thu 09. Oct
19.30

Jan Willem de Vriend & Fazıl Say

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Jan Willem de Vriend Leitung, Fazıl Say Klavier Rebel, Mozart, Haydn
Fri 24. Oct
19.30

Cristian Măcelaru & Martin Fröst

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Cristian Măcelaru Leitung, Martin Fröst Klarinette Clyne, Prokofjew
december
Thu 11. Dec
19.30

Philippe Jordan & Simon Trpčeski

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Philippe Jordan Leitung, Simon Trpčeski Klavier Ravel, Liszt, Ravel
Wed 17. Dec
19.30

Florian Helgath mit Mendelssohns «Paulus»

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Florian Helgath Leitung, Christina Landshamer Sopran, Anke Vondung Alt, Werner Güra Tenor, Michael Volle Bass, Zürcher Sing-Akademie, Mendelssohn Bartholdy
january
Thu 22. Jan
19.30

Paavo Järvi & Kirill Gerstein

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Kirill Gerstein Klavier Adès, Rachmaninow, Bartók
february
Fri 06. Feb
19.30

Marek Janowski & Tabea Zimmermann

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Marek Janowski Leitung, Tabea Zimmermann Viola Hindemith, Brahms
april
Fri 17. Apr
19.30

Kent Nagano with Messiaen

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Kent Nagano Leitung, Yury Favorin Klavier, Nathalie Forget Ondes Martenot Messiaen
Fri 24. Apr
19.30

Marie Jacquot & Augustin Hadelich

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Marie Jacquot Leitung, Augustin Hadelich Violine Adès, Beethoven, Mussorgsky
june
Thu 25. Jun
19.30

Thomas Adès & Kirill Gerstein

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Thomas Adès Leitung, Kirill Gerstein Klavier Sibelius, Adès, Ravel, Adès

Guided tours – a look behind the scenes

At our orchestra concerts you can regularly discover the history and architecture of the Tonhalle Zurich with your ticket.

Information on registration and other public and individual tours can be found here.

Intro – the Podcast

What moves artists shortly before a premiere? What personal connection do they have to the masterpieces of orchestral music? What are the goosebump moments in film music? In the podcast "Intro" with host and dramaturge Ulrike Thiele, musicians tell their stories.

On Spotify, Apple Podcasts and many other podcast platforms – and of course here on our website.

Digital programme booklets

As of this season, our programme booklets are only available in digital form (with the exception of selected concerts). You will find the programme booklet as a PDF one week before the concert on the respective concert page or here in collected form. Printed programme sheets will be handed out free of charge before the concert.

Subscribers can order the printed programme. You can find all the information here.

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