Lifetime achievement award for orchestra conductor

American conductor David Zinman has been awarded the prestigious Echo Klassik award for his achievements over two decades conducting the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich. During his time the orchestra developed into one of the world’s finest. (SRF/swissinfo.ch)

Before Zinman arrived in Zurich in 1995, the Tonhalle wasn’t well known internationally. Zinman raised the standards of the orchestra giving it a global reputation. Together with the orchestra he released 50 CDs, featuring all symphonies by Beethoven and Gustav Mahler. Mahler was Zinman’s debut in 1995 and has been key to his work since. His last concert with the Tonhalle Orchestra was the Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony.

Zinman has inspired a number of innovative ideas in Zurich, including the famous ‘Tonhalle Late’ series to attract a younger audience, as well as a Conductor’s course. Music is still the driving element for Zinman, who lives in New Jersey. He has now been honored with Germany’s major classical music award, the Echo Klassik.