Christoph von Dohnányi, conductor

It was a grand homecoming this month when the Cleveland Orchestra's Music Director Laureate CHRISTOPH von DOHNÁNYI returned to lead concerts at the beautiful Severance Hall, a program of Beethoven's Prometheus Overture, Mozart Sinfonia Concertante and Brahms Symphony No. 1:

"His performance of the Brahms Symphony No. 1 evinces great stalwartness, a keen vision realized by means of active engagement with every corner of the ensemble. His is also a distinctive sound, not only from the bond that clearly still exists but also in a real acoustic sense...All of it adds up to a performance of seething intensity, a restless, molten climb to higher and higher peaks. Heavy with feeling, the horns inject an aura of grandeur, while the woodwinds contribute brilliant shocks of color and the "joy" theme practically soars from the strings. A standard work, yes, but no run-of-the-mill performance." - THE CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER, April 2, 2010

In May, Dohnányi leads the NDR Sinfonieorchester in a complete Beethoven Symphony Cycle, and this summer he returns to Tanglewood, leading the BSO in programs of Mendelssohn, Mozart Piano Concert K.449 with Richard Goode, Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6, and the Mozart Violin Concerto No. 4 and Dvorak Symphony No. 8.

Dohnányi returns to Cleveland in 10/11, and also leads subscription weeks in Boston, New York and Philadelphia.

(April 2010)

Maestro CHRISTOPH von DOHNÁNYI led the Philharmonia Orchestra on a triumphant month-long tour of the UK, Europe and the US, performing symphonies by Beethoven, Brahms, Mahler, Mendelssohn and Schumann. The US leg saw them in Miami, Boca Raton, San Francisco, LA and Orange County - and marked Dohnányi's final appearances as the Philharmonia's Principal Conductor. At the start of the 2008/09 season, he assumes the title "Honorary Conductor for Life".

"Dohnányi's attention to detail, his transparency and scrupulous balancing were repeatedly made manifest...Rarely will one hear such an organic, seamless performance or string phrases played with such honeyed tenderness and nostalgic ache as with the lyrical reminiscences in the final section." THE MIAMI HERALD, May 2, 2008.

After wrapping up the tour, Dohnányi returned to Walt Disney Hall, leading the LA Phil in performances of Beethoven's "Eroica" Symphony and Messiaen's Oiseaux Exotiques. Next up the Maestro returns to Tanglewood, leading the Boston Symphony Orchestra in the summer's closing performances of Beethoven 2, 3 and, as always, Beethoven 9. (June 2008)

Conductor Christoph von Dohnanyi and pianist Andreas Haefliger join forces with the Los Angeles Philharmonic on February 23, 24, and 25, 2006 for Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 27, K. 595 on a program that also features the Mozart Requiem.

Maestro von Dohnanyi has a busy winter and spring season in the US, with February performances at the National Symphony (Bartok, Schumann and Brahms), and two weeks with the Los Angeles Philharmonic - Beethoven, Stravinsky, Birtwistle in addition to the aforementioned Mozart. March will find him returning to the New York Philharmonic for two weeks of programs including concert performances of Bartok's Bluebeard's Castle. April and May will bring the Maestro to the Boston, Chicago, and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras as well. (February 2006)