The Inaugural Concert of Paavo Järvi

Jean Sibelius
Kullervo, op. 7

Johanna Rusanen, soprano
Ville Rusanen, baritone

Zürcher Sing-Akademie
Estonian National Male Choir

Tonhalle Orchester Zürich
Paavo Järvi, conductor

When in 1892, Jean Sibelius set to music the life of the legendary hero Kullervo from the Finnish national epic “Kalevala”, critics spoke of the birth of Finnish music. In this concert, “Kullervo” also was a “moment of birth”, this time for the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, as with this concert and work Paavo Järvi took up his post as the orchestra’s new principal conductor. Together with the Estonian National Male Choir RAM and the soloists Johanna Rusanen and Villen Rusanen he brought Sibelius’ national epic full of murder and manslaughter, but also full of romantic, moving sounds to the Tonhalle Maag.

Recorded live at Tonhalle Maag Zürich, October 2019
Directed by Michael Beyer

A production of Accentus Music in co-operation with Tonhalle Orchester Zürich, mezzo and SRF.