Following an extended period of conducting in Europe, in January & March 2012, David Zinman will return to his roots, to conduct over 20 concerts in the USA with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Symphony and 3 weeks conducting six Beethoven symphonies with the New York Philharmonic.  Appearing at the New York Philharmonic’s Beethoven Festival in March 2012, Zinman returns not only to his roots, but also to demonstrate his legendary Beethoven interpretations recorded with the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich.

Zinman and his classical hits!

In 1991, Zinman recorded Gorecki’s symphony No 3 on the Nonesuch label, in collaboration with Bob Hurwitz.  They cleverly chose the haunting voice of Dawn Upshaw to sing the soprano solo; the sales were astonishing at over a million  – never before in the history of classical music recordings had there been such a success.

Zinman’s Beethoven

Already during Zinman’s time as music director of the Rochester Philharmonic from 1974-85 he began his research and performed what he considered to be the most authentic way of playing Beethoven.  At the start of Zinman’s tenure with the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, he recorded the complete Beethoven symphonies in what became known as a modern style, as he believed Beethoven intended, and as close to his metronome markings as possible.  Again the sales were extraordinary, selling over a million worldwide.  He then went on to record all the Beethoven concertos, overtures, followed by all Schumann symphonies; Strauss orchestral works, Mahler and Brahms symphonies.  He is now completing recording a Schubert cycle with the Tonhalle orchestra plus his works for solo violin and orchestra.

Zinman and American music

During his tenure as conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Zinman’s reputation grew, in particular with the recording of the contemporary American repertoire, including works by Torke, Adams, Rouse and Daugherty.  From the famous ‘Dance Mix’ recording, which comprised of a series of dances written by American composers, emerged the unique TonhalleLATE concerts in Zurich – a series of late-night concerts aimed at young people, combining a classical concert with disco style and funk into the early hours. These concerts have subsequently been reproduced in many places.

Zinman in Philadelphia & Boston

In January Zinman will conduct the Philadelphia and Boston Symphony Orchestras.  Continually combining the new with the old, Zinman will conduct ‘Ash’ by Michael Torke, the Walton viola concerto and Beethoven Symphony No 5 in Philadelphia.  In Boston he will perform Weber’s Overture ‘Euryanthe’, Beethoven piano concerto No 1, a newly commissioned symphony No 6 by John Harbsion and Strauss ‘Til Eulenspiegel’.

America can look forward to the exciting and refreshing interpretations by one of the world’s senior maestros with three of the world’s greatest orchestras.