An international jury nominated a total of 375 recordings in various categories for the International Classical Music Award 2024. The winners have now been announced - and this year's ICMA Award for symphonic music goes to our recording of Bruckner's Symphony No. 8. The prizes will be awarded at a gala concert in Valencia on 12 April.
«On the occasion of the bicentenary of Anton Bruckner's birth, Paavo Järvi has produced one of the most idiomatic Bruckner recordings of recent years conducting 'his' Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich,» said the jury, explaining its decision. «It combines luminosity and transparency with the specific gravity we expect from this great symphonic cathedral and deservedly won the prize for the best symphonic recording of the year.»
«World-class level»
The award confirms the positive international reviews that Paavo Järvi and the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich have received for this Bruckner interpretation. «There are few Bruckner performances that captivate from beginning to end, but this is one,» wrote Terry Blain in «Classical Music Magazine»: «It recognises Paavo Järvi as one of the greatest living Bruckner interpreters.» In his blog «Mittwochs um 12», former NZZ editor Peter Hagmann praised the unreservedly lively sound, which is characterised by «homogeneity, volume and warmth». And Corina Kolbe wrote in «Rondo Magazin» of «colourful complexity»: «Järvi and his Zurich orchestra present themselves at a world-class level with this harmonious interpretation.»
