A packed hall, impressive music and an atmospheric aperitif: this was the concert evening of the Circle of Friends on 1 February 2025 in the Tonhalle Zurich.
Even before the concert, musicologist Dr Viviane Brodmann gave a brief introduction, providing guests with exciting insights into the works of Schumann and Shostakovich.
The concert opened with Robert Schumann's Piano Concerto in A minor op. 54, with Anna Vinnitskaya impressing the audience with her sensitive interpretation, which brought the depths of the work to life. The Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, conducted by Paavo Järvi, accompanied her with precision and musical sensitivity, making the performance an intense experience. As an encore, Anna Vinnitskaya presented Mendelssohn's "Song without Words" No. 12 op. 30 (Venetian Gondola Song), which created a moment of calm and reflection with its gentle melancholy.
After the interval, Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10 in E minor op. 93 was played, with Paavo Järvi and the orchestra unfolding the multi-faceted moods of the work with great care, from powerful to fragile and intimate moments. The result was a sonic journey that deeply moved the audience.
A special moment of the evening was the farewell to Martin Vollenwyder, the long-standing Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tonhalle-Gesellschaft Zürich and also a long-standing member of the Circle of Friends, who was honoured for his commitment.
Following the concert, an atmospheric aperitif in the foyer invited guests to socialise. The guests enjoyed a selection of delicious appetisers such as gravad salmon, carrot tartare and vegan rüeblichueche. It was particularly pleasing to see so many members of klubZ, the Friends of the Club's subsidiary organisation, in attendance, whose enthusiasm and presence ensured a lively mix of generations.
It was an evening characterised by the music, the encounters and the lovely feedback from the members.
