Classical Music News

Paavo Järvi Cancels Concerts with the Staatskapelle Berlin

February 21, 2025

2 MIN READ

Christian Thielemann will step in to conduct an all-Mendelssohn program, featuring VC Young Artist María Dueñas

The Staatskapelle Berlin has announced that conductor Paavo Järvi has withdrawn from conducting the orchestra's planned Abonnementkonzert V on February 24 and 25, 2025 — on account of illness.

He will be replaced by the orchestra's Chief Conductor Christian Thielemann. The program comprises works by Felix Mendelssohn: VC Young Artist María Dueñas will play the E-minor Violin Concerto, while the rest of the concert is the Hebrides Overture Op. 26 and the Symphony No. 3 "Scottish."

You can purchase tickets for the concerts here.

Järvi was originally scheduled to conduct works by Sibelius, Korngold, and Nielsen, but the program was adjusted in light of his withdrawal.

One of the most eminent conductors of our time, Paavo Järvi is presently Music Director of the Tonhalle Orchester-Zürich, has been Artistic Director of The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen since 2004, and is both the founder and Artistic Director of the Estonian Festival Orchestra.

He is also the founder of the Pärnu Music Festival in Estonia, the first edition of which was held in 2011. Its resident orchestra has toured Asia and Europe, including performances at the Berlin Philharmonie, Wiener Konzerthaus, BBC Proms, and Hamburg Elbphilharmonie. In Spring 2024 the orchestra released its fifth album on the Alpha Classics label, Ship of Fools. The disc features premiere recordings of three new orchestral works by the leading Estonian composer Jüri Reinvere.