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.
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:
Orgeleinweihung mit Christian Schmitt – Im Fokus
Orgeleinweihung mit Christian Schmitt – Im Fokus
Kent Nagano – Brittens «War Requiem»
Sir John Eliot Gardiner mit dem Monteverdi Choir
Sir John Eliot Gardiner mit dem Monteverdi Choir
Kurzeinführungen – das Wichtigste, kurz und kompakt
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:
Paavo Järvi und Viktoria Mullova
Paavo Järvi und Viktoria Mullova
Paavo Järvi mit Katia und Marielle Labèque
Paavo Järvi und Ksenija Sidorova
Paavo Järvi und Ksenija Sidorova
Neu: Francesco Piemontesi mit Mozarts Klavierkonzert Nr. 20 KV 466
Neu: Francesco Piemontesi mit Mozarts Klavierkonzert Nr. 20 KV 466
Intro – the audio introduction
A short talk about the compositions of the concert or with the artists of the evening - these are the audio introductions by and with our dramaturge Ulrike Thiele.
With the Intro, you can prepare for the concert in peace at home - or even shortly before, on your way there. It provides background information on the works in the evening's programme, curiosities or key musical moments. One week before the concert, the intro is available online on our website.
You can also listen to all the intros of the current season here.
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 introductions start at 6.30 p.m at the Kleine Tonhalle. They will take place at the following concerts:
Galakonzert Freundeskreis
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 Préludes begin at 6 p.m. in the Kleine Tonhalle and last for one hour. They will take place at the following concerts:
Kent Nagano – Brittens «War Requiem»
Paavo Järvi und Viktoria Mullova
Finale – Interaction after the concert
Listen to expert opinions immediately after the concert, hear descriptions of personal experiences in the artistic process, and learn more about future projects of the artists and guest speakers.
After the concert, Executive and Artistic Director Ilona Schmiel receives the conductor, soloist, composer or other guest together with concertgoers for a discussion.
The finale starts directly after the concert in the concert foyer and lasts approximately 30 minutes.
Orgeleinweihung mit Christian Schmitt – Im Fokus
Kent Nagano – Brittens «War Requiem»
Digitale Programmhefte
Unsere Programmhefte gibt es ab dieser Saison nur in digitaler Form (ausgewählte Konzerte ausgenommen). Sie finden das Programmheft als PDF eine Woche vor dem Konzert auf der jeweiligen Konzertseite oder hier in gesammelter Form. Gedruckte Programmblätter werden kostenlos vor dem Konzert abgegeben.
