Tonal furies and complex counterpoint

By Sarah Batschelet, 04 July 2015

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“the downbeats of Salonen’s work confronted us like exclamation marks, or arrows hitting their marks”

Reviewed at Tonhalle: Grosser Saal, Zurich on 2 July 2015

Salonen, Nyx (Schweizer Erstaufführung)

Szymanowski, Violin Concerto no. 1, Op.35

Strauss R., Ein Heldenleben (A Hero's Life), Op.40

Manfred Honeck, Conductor

Christian Tetzlaff, Violin

Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich

Sonic brilliance and immersive energy from the Tonhalle in Hamburg

Mengguang Huang, 16th March

At the Elbphilharmonie, a programme of Ligeti, Adams and Lutosławski showcases the power of modern orchestral music to engage both intellectually and emotionally.

*****

Bracing Beethoven at Dvořák’s Prague

Frank Kuznik, 8th September

Now in its 23rd year, the festival offers a broader perspective on its namesake's influences and music as this program by the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich and Paavo Järvi demonstrates.

****1

Bright and breezy Dvořák as the Tonhalle returns to the Proms

Mark Pullinger, 30th August

A familiar face on the London scene, Paavo Järvi brings the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich to the Proms for the first time since 2014.

****1

Fledgling Schubert and domesticated Strauss brighten up the Tonhalle

Sarah Batschelet, 8th February

Zurich’s Tonhalle Orchestra give a stunning performance of works by Franz Schubert and Richard Strauss under guest conductor Franz Welser-Möst.

****1

Berlioz and Brahms brighten up the Tonhalle

Sarah Batschelet, 27th January

The Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich plays Schoenberg's orchestration of Brahms' G minor Piano Quartet, while Antoine Tamestit joins the orchestra as wandering soloist in Berlioz' Harold in Italy.

****1

Paavo Järvi and the Tonhalle show their class at the Elbphilharmonie

Alexander Hall, 12th November

Fazıl Say's Mozart is an acquired taste, but Paavo Järvi's Bruckner is a masterclass in how to conduct this composer.

****1

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Sarah Batschelet

Sarah Batschlelet, long based in Switzerland, took a degree in Art History from Smith College, Northampton, Massachuetts, and lives as a freelance writer and editor near Zurich.

Tonal furies and complex counterpoint: Salonen, Szymanowski and Strauss at the Tonhalle