George Gershwin's jazz-inspired Concerto in F, which premiered in New York in 1925, has long been one of pianist Hélène Grimaud's favourite works. She not only likes the energetic moments, but also the almost endless melody in the slow middle movement. This melody seems to flow directly from the soul, she once said: "I hope that I express enough emotion here and that time stands still". At the end of January 2026, she performed the concerto together with the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich under the direction of Paavo Järvi, who, as a great lover of jazz, also has a special relationship with this music.
Our music director conducted a suite from Janáček's opera "The Cunning Little Vixen" as well as Sibelius' Symphony No. 5, the latter of which is a work for connoisseurs, says Paavo Järvi, "but perhaps for that very reason also one for everyone".
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Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich
Paavo Järvi Music Director
Hélène Grimaud Piano
Leoš Janáček Suite from the opera "The Cunning Little Vixen"
George Gershwin Concerto in F
Jean Sibelius Symphony No. 5 in E flat major op. 82
Recording from 31 Jan 2026, Tonhalle Zurich
