The Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich and Chief Conductor David Zinman gave two concerts at the Edinburgh International Festival featuring music by composers with whom they have a close affinity: Brahms and Bruckner. Zinman’s recordings with the Tonhalle-Orchester of the complete Brahms Symphonies are considered benchmark interpretations of the works.

On 24 August, they performed a programme of Brahms’ Violin Concerto, with soloist Frank-Peter Zimmermann, and Bruckner’s Symphony No.3. Reviewing the concert in The Scotsman, Susan Nickalls wrote: ​“The Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich and their conductor David Zinman are a class act, with their crisp phrasing, warmth of tone and remarkable precision.”

On 26 August, the programme consisted of Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem, with the Edinburgh Festival Chorus, and soloists, soprano Rachel Harnisch and baritone Florian Bösch. Again writing in The Scotsman, Susan Nickalls reviewed: ​“David Zinman skilfully kept the momentum going as he steered the fabulous Tonhalle Orchestra and the Edinburgh Festival Chorus through this 85-minute work.”