Classical music from Mozart to Messiaen: that is the passion of the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich – and has been since 1868. When it performs with Paavo Järvi, a special energy is generated, because every concert is a unique experience. The orchestra loves the diverse stimuli it receives from its guest conductors and enjoys being challenged by internationally acclaimed soloists. Along with its audience, the orchestra maintains a lively curiosity for unknown masterpieces and newly commissioned works. Founded by musicians from Zürich itself, the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich proclaims its musical home in its name and carries its excellent reputation around the world by means of tours and recordings.
The orchestra brings together musicians from 20 nations, and some 100 musicians play around 50 different programmes in over 100 concerts per season. Guest appearances have taken it to 100 cities in more than thirty countries. In addition to the orchestral projects, the musicians also create their own chamber music series. The music director Paavo Järvi is the eleventh principal conductor of the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich; David Zinman is its conductor emeritus.

The orchestra has released more than forty recordings on CD, including complete cycles of the symphonies of Beethoven, Mahler, Brahms and Schubert. Its first recording with Paavo Järvi was devoted to orchestral works by Olivier Messiaen and was awarded the Diapason d’Or in 2019. This was followed by recordings of all of Tchaikovsky’s symphonies and other orchestral works; the first release with the Fifth Symphony was awarded the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik 2020 and the Diapason d’Or 2021.
Last season, a close artistic partnership with John Adams resulted in a major recording of his orchestral works. The Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich together with Paavo Järvi were recently awarded the 2022 European Cultural Prize. After four seasons performing in the Tonhalle Maag in West Zürich, from the beginning of the 2021/22 season the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich has returned to its traditional home by the lake, the substantially renovated Tonhalle, whose main concert hall, the «Grosse Tonhalle», has won international fame for its superb acoustics.