Gramophone's Orchestra of the Year Award is the only Gramophone Classical Music Award decided by public vote. The 10 orchestras nominated this year are: Academy of Ancient Music, Accademia Bizantina, Bamberger Symphoniker, Berliner Philharmoniker, The Cleveland Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Philharmonia Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich.

This week, we focus on the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich ...

Introduction

Last year, Paavo Järvi’s Japanese orchestra, Tokyo’s NHK SO, was shortlisted, and this year we find him on the list with his new Swiss ensemble, the very fine Tonhalle. An early Messiaen album had Peter Quantrill admiring the sound which ‘bodes promisingly for the relationship between the Zurich orchestra and their new director’, and the first instalment of a new symphony series drew from Mark Pullinger the comment that it ‘hits the emotional spot and marks an auspicious start to Järvi’s Tonhalle Tchaikovsky cycle’. A start that was followed up in June with Nos 2 and 4 – both impressive performances. 

Recommended Albums

Messiaen Orchestral works

Tonhalle Orchestra / P Järvi

‘In the closing, serene depiction of celestial rapture there is a silky assurance that bodes promisingly for the relationship between the Zurich orchestra and their new director, as well as the new recording studio built in the basement of the Tonhalle. ...’ (Peter Quantrill)

Read the review in Gramophone's Reviews Database

Tchaikovsky Symphony No 5, etc

Tonhalle Orchestra / P Järvi

‘It certainly hits the emotional spot and marks an auspicious start to Järvi’s Tonhalle Tchaikovsky cycle ...’ (Mark Pullinger)

Read the review in Gramophone's Reviews Database

Tchaikovsky Symphony No 2 & 4

Tonhalle Orchestra / P Järvi

‘Järvi is to be congratulated for producing a Fourth that stands out for its individuality, and this recording certainly warrants repeated listening ...’ (Marina Frolova-Walker)

Read the review in Gramophone's Reviews Database

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich Playlist

Enjoy recent highlights from the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich in our exclusive Apple Music playlist.

Apple Music offers a three-month free trial to new subscribers and with its vast catalogue of recordings – plus the addition of lossless audio and Spatial Audio, offering an immersive audio experience from 44.1kHz/16-bit (CD quality) up to 192kHz/24-bit – it is the perfect music streaming platform for anyone who loves classical music. Find out more and start your free trial here: Apple Music 

Listen to all of the Orchestra of the Year playlists on Apple Music: Orchestra of the Year 2021

Vote for the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich

You can cast your vote for Gramophone's Orchestra of the Year 2021 either using the voting form below or by following this link: 2021 Orchestra of the Year Vote

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