Gstaad Festival Orchestra

“This is what real world-class sounds like” (Hamburger Abendblatt reviewing the concert at the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg)

Jaap van Zweden, Music Director of the New York Philharmonic, is renowned internationally for his success around the world. After his considerable influence on the GFO and the Gstaad Conducting Academy in 2017, 2018 and 2021-2023, van Zweden returns to the GFO's pulpit this season with an impressive repertoire: in addition to great symphonic works such as Bruckners 7^th Symphony, the GFO is turning to Wagners opera "Tristan and Isolde", with singers at their side such as Camilla Nylund and Jonas Kaufmann. Together with Janine Jansen, Jaap van Zweden is also interpreting Mendelssohns violin concerto in e-minor.

In summer 2024, the GFO will - for the tenth time since 2014 - be a part of the Gstaad Academy’s heart piece Gstaad Conducting Academy, acting as “Orchestra in Residence”. 10 junior conductors from all over the world will be given the opportunity to work with the GFO for three weeks and conduct at its performances. This Conducting Academy, which is unique in Europe, will take place under the artistic direction of Jaap van Zweden and Johannes Schlaefli.

The Gstaad Festival Orchestra is made up of the best musicians from Switzerland's leading orchestras. These high-class musicians are now forming a sort of musical 'national team'. Its members are musicians from the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, the Zurich Opera Orchestra, the Kammerorchester Basel, the Basel Symphony Orchestra and the Bern Symphony Orchestra. Furthermore, some of the best students from international music institutions are selected every year to play with the GFO. The aim is to bring high-quality sound and famous musical spirit of the top Swiss orchestras together, in order to create a process of dialogue between the musicians and to forge at the same time a dynamic, unique-sounding orchestra every year.

A wonderful video recording of Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony, conducted by Jaap van Zweden, was made in the summer of 2017 in the Gstaad Festival Tent, which can be seen on www.gstaaddigitalfestival.ch.During a celebrated concert tour in the summer of 2015 the first live cd recording took place. It was published by Sony in January 2016. It features the new version of the Swan Lake suite by Tchaikovsky created by Kristjan Järvi.