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:

December 2024
Thu 19. Dec
19.30

Jan Willem de Vriend with Handel's "Messiah"

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Jan Willem de Vriend Conductor, Mary Bevan Sopran, Sara Fulgoni Alt, Guy Cutting Tenor, Florian Boesch Bass, Zürcher Sing-Akademie, Florian Helgath Einstudierung Händel
Fri 20. Dec
19.30

Jan Willem de Vriend with Handel's "Messiah"

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Jan Willem de Vriend Conductor, Mary Bevan Sopran, Sara Fulgoni Alt, Guy Cutting Tenor, Florian Boesch Bass, Zürcher Sing-Akademie, Florian Helgath Einstudierung Händel
January 2025
Thu 16. Jan
19.30

Marek Janowski & Mao Fujita

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Marek Janowski Conductor, Mao Fujita Klavier Mozart, Beethoven
Fri 17. Jan
19.30

Marek Janowski & Mao Fujita

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Marek Janowski Conductor, Mao Fujita Klavier Mozart, Beethoven
Fri 31. Jan
19.30

Paavo Järvi & Anna Vinnitskaya

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Anna Vinnitskaya Klavier Schumann, Schostakowitsch
February
Sun 02. Feb
17.00

Paavo Järvi & Anna Vinnitskaya

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Anna Vinnitskaya Klavier Schumann, Schostakowitsch
Thu 20. Feb
19.30

John Eliot Gardiner & Piotr Anderszewski

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Sir John Eliot Gardiner Conductor, Piotr Anderszewski Klavier Beethoven, Sibelius
Fri 21. Feb
19.30

John Eliot Gardiner & Piotr Anderszewski

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Sir John Eliot Gardiner Conductor, Piotr Anderszewski Klavier Beethoven, Sibelius
May
Sat 10. May
18.30

Santtu-Matias Rouvali & Seong-Jin Cho

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Santtu-Matias Rouvali Conductor, Seong-Jin Cho Klavier Prokofjew, Tschaikowsky
Sun 11. May
17.00

Santtu-Matias Rouvali & Seong-Jin Cho

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Santtu-Matias Rouvali Conductor, Seong-Jin Cho Klavier Prokofjew, Tschaikowsky
June
Thu 05. Jun
19.30

Paavo Järvi with Mozart

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director Mozart
Fri 06. Jun
19.30

Paavo Järvi with Mozart

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director Mozart
Thu 19. Jun
19.30

Franz Welser-Möst & Iurii Samoilov

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

Franz Welser-Möst & Iurii Samoilov

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Franz Welser-Möst 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 2024
Thu 21. Nov
19.30

Nathalie Stutzmann & Diana Damrau

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Nathalie Stutzmann Conductor, Diana Damrau Sopran Wagner, Glière, Duparc, Tschaikowsky
October
Thu 24. Oct
19.30

Paavo Järvi & Lisa Batiashvili

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Lisa Batiashvili Violine Mozart, Prokofjew, Schostakowitsch
July
Fri 05. Jul
19.30

Joana Mallwitz with Mahler

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Joana Mallwitz Conductor, Pekka Kuusisto Violine Dessner, Mahler
Thu 04. Jul
19.30

Joana Mallwitz with Mahler

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Joana Mallwitz Conductor, Pekka Kuusisto Violine Dessner, Mahler
June
Thu 20. Jun
19.30

Herbert Blomstedt with Mozart

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Herbert Blomstedt Conductor Mozart
Wed 19. Jun
19.30

Herbert Blomstedt with Mozart

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Herbert Blomstedt Conductor Mozart
Fri 14. Jun
19.30

Gala Concert Freundeskreis: Janine Jansen plays Sibelius

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Janine Jansen Violine Rimskij-Korsakow, Sibelius, Rimskij-Korsakow
May
Sun 26. May
17.00

Hélène Grimaud plays Beethoven

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Hélène Grimaud Klavier Mahler, Beethoven, Schostakowitsch
Sat 25. May
18.30

Hélène Grimaud plays Beethoven

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Hélène Grimaud Klavier Mahler, Beethoven, Schostakowitsch

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:

December 2024
Wed 11. Dec
19.30

Tugan Sokhiev & Haochen Zhang

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Tugan Sokhiev Conductor, Haochen Zhang Klavier Strauss, Liszt, Strauss
February 2025
Thu 27. Feb
19.30

Patrick Hahn with Dvořák's Stabat mater

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Patrick Hahn Conductor, Sarah Wegener Sopran, Karen Cargill Alt, Benjamin Bruns Tenor, Christof Fischesser Bass, Zürcher Sing-Akademie, Florian Helgath Einstudierung Dvořák
November 2024
Sun 10. Nov
17.00

Paavo Järvi with Mahler

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director Mahler
Sat 09. Nov
18.30

Paavo Järvi with Mahler

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director Mahler

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:

December 2024
Thu 12. Dec
19.30

Tugan Sokhiev & Haochen Zhang

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Tugan Sokhiev Conductor, Haochen Zhang Klavier Strauss, Liszt, Strauss
February 2025
Thu 06. Feb
19.30

Semyon Bychkov & Anastasia Kobekina

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Semyon Bychkov Conductor, Anastasia Kobekina Violoncello Haydn, Schubert
April
Sat 12. Apr
18.30

Giovanni Antonini & Isabelle Faust

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Giovanni Antonini Conductor, Isabelle Faust Violine Gluck, Mozart, Schubert
May
Thu 15. May
19.30

Cristian Măcelaru & Augustin Hadelich

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Cristian Măcelaru Conductor, Augustin Hadelich Violine Brahms, Bartók
December 2024
Wed 04. Dec
19.30

Petr Popelka & Antoine Tamestit

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Petr Popelka Conductor, Antoine Tamestit Viola Schnittke, Schumann

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:

January 2025
Thu 23. Jan
19.30

Paavo Järvi & Víkingur Ólafsson

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Víkingur Ólafsson Klavier Adams, Mahler
March
Wed 05. Mar
19.30

Paavo Järvi, Tanja Tetzlaff & Christian Tetzlaff

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Christian Tetzlaff Violine, Tanja Tetzlaff Violoncello Ligeti, Brahms, Schumann
Thu 13. Mar
19.30

Paavo Järvi & Víkingur Ólafsson

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Víkingur Ólafsson Klavier Brahms, Lutosławski
April
Thu 03. Apr
19.30

Eva Ollikainen & Hakan Hardenberger

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Eva Ollikainen Conductor, Håkan Hardenberger Trompete Wagner, Widmann, Thorvaldsdottir, Sibelius
November 2024
Fri 29. Nov
19.30

Sonic Matter: André de Ridder

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, André de Ridder Conductor, James McVinnie Orgel Thorvaldsdottir, Muhly, Bjarnason

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:

January 2025
Fri 24. Jan
19.30

Paavo Järvi & Víkingur Ólafsson

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Víkingur Ólafsson Klavier Adams, Mahler
February
Wed 26. Feb
19.30

Patrick Hahn with Dvořák's Stabat mater

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Patrick Hahn Conductor, Sarah Wegener Sopran, Karen Cargill Alt, Benjamin Bruns Tenor, Christof Fischesser Bass, Zürcher Sing-Akademie, Florian Helgath Einstudierung Dvořák
March
Thu 06. Mar
19.30

Paavo Järvi, Tanja Tetzlaff & Christian Tetzlaff

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Christian Tetzlaff Violine, Tanja Tetzlaff Violoncello Ligeti, Brahms, Schumann
April
Fri 04. Apr
19.30

Eva Ollikainen & Hakan Hardenberger

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Eva Ollikainen Conductor, Håkan Hardenberger Trompete Wagner, Widmann, Thorvaldsdottir, Sibelius
May
Wed 14. May
19.30

Cristian Măcelaru & Augustin Hadelich

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Cristian Măcelaru Conductor, Augustin Hadelich Violine Brahms, Bartók
June
Wed 25. Jun
19.30

Jakub Hrůša & Leonidas Kavakos

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Jakub Hrůša Conductor, Leonidas Kavakos Violine Schostakowitsch, Strawinsky
December 2024
Thu 05. Dec
19.30

Petr Popelka & Antoine Tamestit

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Petr Popelka Conductor, Antoine Tamestit Viola Schnittke, Schumann
November
Fri 22. Nov
19.30

Nathalie Stutzmann & Diana Damrau

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Nathalie Stutzmann Conductor, Diana Damrau Sopran Wagner, Glière, Duparc, Tschaikowsky
September
Fri 20. Sep
19.30

Season opening with Paavo Järvi & Víkingur Ólafsson

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Paavo Järvi Music Director, Víkingur Ólafsson Klavier Brahms, Thorvaldsdottir, Strawinsky
July
Thu 04. Jul
19.30

Joana Mallwitz with Mahler

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Joana Mallwitz Conductor, Pekka Kuusisto Violine Dessner, Mahler

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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