Lots of anticipation and a little stress

Franziska Möhrle, Project Management

"When I stand in the Münsterhof at the moment, I see completely different things than usual. For example, the tensions above the square, which make setting up the stage a challenge... When preparing for a festival like this, you experience surprises every day, both pleasant and otherwise. Permits, noise protection, crowd management: there are countless topics with many more details that need to be clarified. The great thing is that our project has been met with great enthusiasm by everyone we deal with. Many of them are also extremely helpful. For example, the pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet will have a very good opportunity to rehearse near the Münsterhof. We have rooms for cloakrooms and storage facilities around the square. I'm also delighted to be working with tried-and-tested catering partners: Gelateria di Berna and Bierwerk Züri, for example, will be offering products that we developed together as part of our Zweiklang project. The whole puzzle is gradually coming together. And even if a few pieces are still missing at the moment: In the end, they will all be in the right place."

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Friedemann Dürrschnabel, orchestra technology

"An open-air concert means almost a year of preparation. The stage construction has to be planned, as does the sound and lighting technology. You need information on the nature and load-bearing capacity of the ground, as well as licences - not only for the use of Münsterplatz, but also for access roads, electricity and water connections. It is necessary to clarify which neighbouring buildings can be used for offices or cloakrooms for the musicians. The shortest routes to the stage need to be found so that the instruments don't get wet if it rains. And finally, you have to make sure that the church bells of the Fraumünster don't ring when the music is playing!"

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Sandra Studer, presenter

"I really like it when classical music ventures out of the hallowed concert halls and encounters a completely different audience. This includes people who have perhaps never been to a concert before and are curious about what is happening in the open air in the centre of Zurich. And conversely, it's great that the musicians move out of their comfort zone and get involved with the weather, background noise and open-air atmosphere. A lot of exciting things come out of this combination. And also from the variety that is offered on the same stage: Classical music, jazz, children's choirs, youth orchestras, sing-along fun, a star pianist and, finally, the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, with whom I have had the pleasure of working for many years. I love bringing music closer to an audience and sharing my enthusiasm for it. The tonhalleAIR will be a celebration!"

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Elisabeth Bundies, 1st violin

"I'm really looking forward to tonhalleAIR, because open-air concerts always have a special and relaxed atmosphere: in a way, we're closer to society than in our beautiful Tonhalle hall, because people who might otherwise not necessarily hear our orchestra live also happen to come by. The acoustics outside are always a challenge, of course, and sometimes the weather too: the wind can cause the notes to swirl around or even our concert clothes ... I remember an earlier concert in the Münsterhof where the swifts played along vigorously. And in Shanghai, we played an open-air concert in the blazing sun at midday. We were a bit worried about the instruments - and were allowed to wear sunglasses in concert for the first time. So I'm curious to see what awaits us this time ..."

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Corine Mauch, Mayor of the City of Zurich

"With tonhalleAIR, the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich is not only bringing classical music of the highest calibre to the public arena, but also offering a unique stage for great young talent and the Zurich Jazz Orchestra. A new highlight on Zurich's cultural agenda."

We use deepL.com for our translations into English.