Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra

The Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra (Tonhalle Orchester Z++rich in German) is the leading orchestra of Switzerland's largest city, and among the best of the major symphony orchestras of Europe. Zurich was a leading music center throughout the Middle Ages. (Zurich manuscripts are the most important sources of information about German Minnesang.) Its important church tradition ended when Ulrich Zwingli became the pastor of the Grossm++nster church in 1519. He banned all music in services. Although singing was reintroduced in 1598, there was no organ in the church until the nineteenth...