Foto: Georg Aerni

Tonhalle Zürich

The Tonhalle Zürich has been the home of the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich since 1895. Having undergone a complete programme of renovation between 2017 and 2021, it has now been restored to its former glory.

Built at the turn of the 20th century, the Tonhalle has seen many changes in the course of its history. Partially demolished, the building was extended with the addition of the Kongresshaus; much of its original ornamentation was removed; its colourful decoration was toned down and then restored. However, the two concert halls remained substantially unchanged – which is particularly fortunate, as the Grosse Tonhalle is acoustically one of the world’s finest concert venues.

The entire complex is now classified as a historical monument. Thanks to the Zurich electorate, which in 2016 voted by a large majority in favour of a complete renovation, the venue now meets today’s varying requirements both in the auditorium and behind the scenes – and has been restored to its former glory. Following the renovation programme lasting from 2017 to 2021, the Grosse Tonhalle’s old tonal brilliance has also returned.

We are delighted to be able to work in this wonderful building!

Foto: Georg Aerni
Foto: Georg Aerni
Eingangshalle (Foto: Georg Aerni)
Vestibül (Foto: Georg Aerni)
Konzertfoyer (Foto: Georg Aerni)
Konzertfoyer Galerie (Foto: Georg Aerni)
Grosse Tonhalle (Foto: Georg Aerni)
Grosse Tonhalle (Foto: Georg Aerni)
Kleine Tonhalle (Foto: Georg Aerni)
Vereinssaal (Foto: Georg Aerni)

Explore the Tonhalle Zurich

After four years of renovation, the Tonhalle Zurich reopened its doors in September 2021.

Audio guides
Explore our home via audio guide and learn exciting facts about the eventful history, architecture and acoustics of the Tonhalle Zürich.

Virtual tour
Take a virtual stroll through the Tonhalle Zurich with Google Arts & Culture. In eight online exhibitions and video contributions, you can marvel in particular at the famous ceiling paintings, ornaments and decorations that give the Tonhalle its very special character.

Public guided tour
During a public guided tour on site, you will gain an insight into the working world of our orchestra, experience the backstage area and learn interesting anecdotes about the history and architecture of the renovated Tonhalle Zurich.

"Tonhalle Zürich 1895 - 2021"
The book "Tonhalle Zürich 1895 - 2021", which was published to mark the reopening in September 2021, gives you even more insight into the history and architecture of the Tonhalle Zürich.

From 1895 to 2021

The Tonhalle on Lake Zurich has witnessed four structural milestones, the dates of which will appear as programmatic highlights throughout the 2021/22 season. We take a look at the building’s eventful history.

 

1895 – A «Temple of Art» for Zurich

The New Tonhalle on the shores of Lake Zurich was completed in 1895. Conceived as a «permanent temple of art» for the people of Zurich, the new building replaced the Old Tonhalle, which had been erected on the site of the Kornhaus on Sechseläutenplatz in 1867. The Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, which had been founded in 1868, was thus able to move into a splendid building that was emblematic of the Zurich bourgeoisie’s proud self-image.

With buildings like the New Tonhalle, Zurich was aiming to transform itself into a modern metropolis. As part of the quayside promenade newly designed by Arnold Bürkli (today’s General-Guisan-Quai), the concert hall was intended to make a suitable impression. Renowned Viennese architects Fellner & Helmer, who had also recently built the Stadttheater Zürich – today's opera house – were engaged for the purpose. Boasting two lofty towers, the architects’ design for the Tonhalle was a prestigious building complex modelled on the Trocadéro in the cosmopolitan city of Paris.

No sooner had the Tonhalle’s concert hall – the centrepiece of Zurich’s Trocadéro – been inaugurated, than its outstanding acoustics were praised. And they are still world-renowned. The revered Johannes Brahms was invited to conduct his own works at the inaugural concert. And while doing so, the composer was able to marvel at his own portrait alongside depictions of other greats of musical history such as Beethoven.

1939 – A modern conference centre for the National Exhibition

Zurich was exceedingly proud to host the 1939 National Exhibition, which was all about the spirit of national defence at a time when Europe was heading towards the next catastrophe.

Swiss architects Haefeli, Moser, Steiger were commissioned to build a modern conference centre. To this end, the Trocadéro – which by this time was increasingly perceived as «dated» – was demolished and replaced by a masterpiece of modern architecture. The architects succeeded in integrating the two Tonhalle concert halls into a building complex that was impressive in terms of its enhanced understanding of functionalism, integrating various aesthetic and decorative elements into the purely functional aspects of the construction. The building cleverly played with the contrast between the urban and natural worlds by featuring, for example, a garden courtyard, a tropical conservatory in the foyer and a terrace overlooking the lake.

1985 – A renovation in the spirit of renewal

In the 1980s – a turbulent period, and not only for Zurich – the Tonhalle was modernised in the style of the times. This involved various interventions in the architectural substance of the complex. The most obvious instance of this was the Panorama Hall, a massive steel edifice built parallel to the lake.

The time had also come to replace the aging organ, which dated from 1872 and had already been transferred to the New Tonhalle from the Old Tonhalle on Sechseläutenplatz. Despite its great historical value, a new instrument took its place.

2021 – Dialogue between past and present

The Tonhalle was thoroughly renovated between 2017 and 2021. The Zurich electorate had previously rejected the idea of building a new conference centre, which would have meant demolishing the building by Haefeli, Moser, Steiger.
By doing so, voters had acknowledged that the concert hall’s great architectural heritage was worthy of preservation.

With their 21st-century upgrade, collaborators Elisabeth and Martin Boesch, Diener & Diener, and Conzett Bronzini Partner have succeeded in initiating a dialogue between past and present. By, for example, reinstating the original spectacular colours of the opulent hall, they have lavishly restored the Grosse Tonhalle to its original state of 1895. Featuring a spacious terrace and restaurant, the newly renovated complex also offers direct access to the lake and views of the alpine panorama. The dialogue between past and present is also taken up in artistic terms – among other things with a new organ in the Grosse Tonhalle that is suitable both for the repertoire of the period when the concert hall was inaugurated and for contemporary music.

Building history and architecture

Grosse Tonhalle

Find out more about the Great Hall of Music, the restoration and the ceiling paintings in this online exhibition by Google Arts & Culture:

The organ

The new organ from Orgelbau Kuhn is a tribute to the sound of the Tonhalle Zurich. We look forward to performing this sound in numerous organ concerts and at the Zurich International Organ Festival. More information

Here we would like to present the new organ in a few facts and figures:

The organs in the Tonhalle Zurich

1872
Installation of a Kuhn organ in the Tonhalle in the new Kornhaus

1895
Installation of the Kuhn organ in the new Tonhalle

1927
Remodelling and enlargement of the Kuhn organ

1939
Modernisation of the Kuhn organ with an electro-pneumatic setting device

1988
New organ built by the companies Kleuker and Steinmeyer

1995
Reconstruction of the old Kuhn organ in Zurich's Neumünster church

2021
Inauguration of the new Kuhn organ in the renovated Tonhalle

Tonhalle Maag

We spent four seasons at the Tonhalle Maag in Zurich-West while the Tonhalle Zurich was being extensively renovated. Find out more about our interim venue in this online exhibition by Google Arts & Culture.

We thank our partners