• Julia Wolfe appointed the Orchestra’s first Composer in Residence, with four works featured in the season, including a newly commissioned symphonic arrangement of her Pulitzer-winning Anthracite Fields
• Focus on opera, with Principal Guest Conductor Anja Bihlmaier to direct a concert performance of Bluebeard’s Castle by Béla Bartók, and the UK premiere of Du Yun’s Angel’s Bone at Aviva Studios in collaboration with English National Opera and Factory International
• Guest artists include violinists Augustin Hadelich, Bomsori Kim and Simone Lamsma; cellists Gabriel Cabezas and Anastasia Kobekina; pianists Elisabeth Brauß, Frank Dupree and Paul Lewis; trombonist Peter Moore; and violist Lawrence Power
• Two nights at the O2 Apollo Manchester with Rufus Wainwright with a symphonic reimagining of his Want One and Want Two albums
• World premiere from Laura Bowler and UK premieres from Julia Wolfe, Edmund Finnis and Gabriella Smith
• Philharmonic Sessions, a series that explores orchestral presentation continues with The Rite of Spring at Aviva Studios
• Film music takes the spotlight with Moving Pictures, a live orchestral journey through iconic 21st-century scores
• Musical Storyland as seen on CBeebies, makes its international premiere with performances in Germany and China, including a Mandarin-language performance in Beijing
• Conductors making their BBC Philharmonic debuts include Riccardo Minasi, Colin Currie, Daníel Bjarnason, Clelia Cafiero, and Jonathan Cohen
• New partnership with Chetham’s School of Music, alongside ongoing collaborations with the Greater Manchester Music Hub and BBC Education to support the next generation of musiciansThe BBC Philharmonic Orchestra today reveals its 2025-26 season of programming, showcasing its commitment to artistic innovation and the development of new audiences for classical music. The season features a bold programme of orchestral blockbusters, powerful storytelling, and new musical experiences, bringing connection, inspiration and joy to the people of Greater Manchester and beyond.
The 2025-26 programme spans from large-scale symphonic concerts at The Bridgewater Hall all the way to more intimate concerts at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), and immersive productions at Aviva Studios. The Orchestra will perform across the UK as well as on the international stage, with appearances at the Herbstgold Festival in Austria and Beijing International Music Festival. Alongside main stage performances, both festivals will see the Philharmonic present live performances of Musical Storyland, its award-winning children’s programme – for the first time, in German and Mandarin. The beloved programme has now been streamed over 14 million times on iPlayer.
In a year that has seen the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra win a Royal Television Society North West Award for Musical Storyland, present The Sound of Gaming – a virtual concert of live video game music with BBC R&D and Improbable – and announce a new immersive series with Aviva Studios, the Orchestra continues to build on its mission to reach new audiences across Greater Manchester and beyond and embed itself even more deeply into the city’s cultural life, playing an essential role in shaping the region as a leading cultural destination and a hub for world-class orchestral talent.
Director of the BBC Philharmonic, Adam Szabo says: “This season is all about creating extraordinary, shared experiences that bring audiences together. Whether you’re joining us for Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony at The Bridgewater Hall, or for a packed-out Rite of Spring at Aviva Studios, these are big artistic moments made for real people. They’re loud, emotional, joyful, and deeply human.
Our identity as a world-class BBC Orchestra, an innovator in music education, and a musical champion for the North of England underpins everything we do – making Salford not just our home, but our inspiration. This season is full of emotion, imagination, and energy. Whether you’re a first-time concertgoer or a seasoned fan, we hope you’ll find something that moves you – and makes you feel part of the BBC Philharmonic family.”
Julia Wolfe: Composer in Residence
Today, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Julia Wolfe takes up the title of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra’s first-ever Composer in Residence, bringing her bold, socially engaged musical voice to audiences across the 2025-26 season. Known for music that fuses the raw energy of rock with the emotional power of classical tradition, Wolfe’s residency includes four major performances of her work.
The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra’s season launches in September with Fountain of Youth, a striking season opener, featuring two of Wolfe’s major works LAD, a foyer takeover for nine live bagpipes, and the UK premiere of Fountain of Youth, a surging, euphoric orchestral work (20 September). The programme also includes Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2 with soloist Augustin Hadelich and Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony.
Later in the season, audiences will experience Wolfe’s signature storytelling with her Pulitzer-winning oratorio about American coal miners, entitled Anthracite Fields (21 March), performed by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and BBC Singers, and conducted by John Storgårds; and Big Beautiful Dark and Scary (25 April), Wolfe’s personal response to witnessing the aftermath of 9/11.
Julia Wolfe, Composer in Residence, says: “It’s a real privilege to be working with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra as their Composer in Residence this season. This orchestra brings such intensity, clarity, and heart to every performance – it’s a joy to collaborate with musicians so open to risk and adventure. My music often explores extremes – emotional, sonic, social – and I’m excited to share that journey with audiences in Manchester and
beyond.”
World-leading Conductors and Notable Debuts
The BBC Philharmonic’s 2025–26 season welcomes a distinguished lineup of guest conductors, soloists and collaborators – alongside familiar musical voices returning to The Bridgewater Hall stage.
John Storgårds continues in his role as Chief Conductor leading 7 concerts across the 25/26 season. Highlights include Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10, as the Orchestra continues its acclaimed journey through the cycle (15 November); John Adams’ City Noir and Charles Ives’ The Unanswered Question, alongside Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto with Paul Lewis (17 January); and Grand Pianola Music, a collaboration with acclaimed pianist Tamara Stefanovich (1 May), as well as Northern Lights (16 May), a programme of Rautavaara, Sibelius, and Nielsen, that reflects his deep connection with Nordic repertoire. He closes the season with a performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, ‘Resurrection’ with Siobhan Stagg, Stefanie Irányi, and the CBSO Chorus (13 June). Storgårds also conducts two live studio broadcasts from MediaCityUK: Beethoven Symphony No. 7 (17 September) and Four Seasons in a Day (14 January). Principal Guest Conductor Anja Bihlmaier returns to lead the Orchestra through two powerful concert programmes including Bartók’s haunting opera Bluebeard’s Castle, with mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnston and bass-baritone Kostas Smoriginas starring in the title roles, alongside works by Lili Boulanger and Kodály (24 January). Later in the season, she returns to conduct Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique, alongside Julia Wolfe’s Big Beautiful Dark and Scary (25 April). She also appears in the studio series, conducting Britten’s Spring Symphony live from MediaCityUK (22 April).
Joshua Weilerstein makes a triumphant return to the Philharmonic podium to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American Independence with a programme of Ellington, Kapustin, and Dvořák (18 April), and also conducts two live studio broadcasts from MediaCityUK (21 November & 16 April). The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra welcomes back their 2019-2023 Associate Artist Luovic Morlot to conduct the next instalment of Philharmonic Sessions: an immersive reimagining of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring (22 May). Other conductors making welcome returns include Giuseppe Mengoli (21 November), Leslie Suganandarajah (16 & 19 December), and Tom Fetherstonhaugh (13 May).
This season also sees a number of notable conducting debuts with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor and percussionist Colin Currie champions the music of Steve Reich, alongside new music from Laura Bowler and Gabriella Smith (29 November). Other debut appearances include Daníel Bjarnason (7 May), Clelia Cafiero (18 March), Jonathan Cohen (30 January), Riccardo Minasi (25 February). Nicholas Carter, one of the leading opera conductors of his generation, makes his Bridgewater Hall debut, with music by Wagner, Strauss, Bax, and a UK premiere by Edmund Finnis (14 March), and also conducts Schubert’s ‘Unfinished’ Symphony in a live broadcast from MediaCityUK (11 March), while Adam Hickox also makes his Bridgewater Hall debut (7 February).
Star soloists and spotlight performances
Soloists making their debut with the Orchestra this season include cellist Gabriel Cabezas, performing the UK premiere of Gabriella Smith’s Lost Coast, a concerto for Cello and Orchestra (11 October); Manchester-raised trombonist Peter Moore, performing Dani Howard’s RPS-Award-winning trombone concerto (8 November); pianist Frank Dupree (Kapustin’s Piano Concerto No. 4, 18 April); and soprano Sarah Wegener (Strauss’s Four Last Songs, 14 March). Returning soloists include violist Lawrence Power, who performs Cassandra Miller’s Viola Concerto, I Cannot Love Without Trembling (21 February), and acclaimed pianist Tamara Stefanovich who joins the Orchestra for an exploration of the piano with Stravinsky’s Concerto for Piano and Wind and Adams’ Grand Pianola Music (1 May). Other returning guests are cellist Anastasia Kobekina (Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in B minor, 15 November), pianist Paul Lewis (Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, 17 January), pianist Elisabeth Brauß (Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G, 7 February), and violinists Bomsori Kim and Simone Lamsma, performing Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto (25 April) and Sibelius’ Violin Concerto (16 May), respectively.
The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra will also showcase soloists from within the ensemble. Principal Oboe Jennifer Galloway and Orchestra Leader Zoë Beyers take centre stage in Bach’s Concerto for Oboe and Violin, following a performance of Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Trumpets by Tom Fountain and Gwyn Owen, as part of a baroque programme at the RNCM (30 January). Beyers also directs and performs in Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings in a new concert series in partnership with RNCM, showcasing the Orchestra in a more intimate, informal setting. The programme also includes Bartók’s Divertimento for Strings (5 December). Later in the season, Beyers and principal cellist Peter Dixon join forces for Brahms’s Double Concerto (7 May 2026).
New Music
Continuing the BBC Philharmonic’s longstanding commitment to championing living composers, the 2025–26 season features a series of bold premieres and UK firsts from some of the most exciting voices working today. Composer in Residence Julia Wolfe is at the heart of the season, which features the UK premieres of Fountain of Youth (20 September) and a newly-commissioned symphonic version of her Pulitzer Prize-winning Anthracite Fields, co-commissioned by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, in partnership with Louisville Orchestra (21 March). Further highlights include the UK premiere of Lost Coast, Gabriella Smith’s cello concerto written for long-time collaborator Gabriel Cabezas and inspired by the rugged Northern California coastline (11 October), as well as the UK premiere of her work (29 November), and the world premiere of a new work by British composer Laura Bowler. Also featured is the UK premiere of The Landscape Wakes by fast-rising British composer Edmund Finnis, co-commissioned with Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (14 March).
The season also features the UK premiere of Angel’s Bone by Chinese-American composer Du Yun – a Pulitzer Prize-winning contemporary opera exploring themes of modern-day slavery and human trafficking. This new production, co-produced with English National Opera and Factory International, is specially staged for the dramatic Warehouse space at AVIVA Studios (May 2026).
Other notable works from living composers include French-born Camille Pépin’s orchestral work Les eaux célestes, which receives its Manchester debut (7 February), and Cassandra Miller’s Viola Concerto I Cannot Love Without Trembling (21 February).
Philharmonic Sessions in partnership with Factory International
Artistic innovation and reaching new audiences have long been central to the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra’s mission. The Orchestra continues to push the boundaries of orchestral performance through a strand of work that reimagines how, where, and why orchestral music is experienced. Through immersive staging, dynamic collaborations, and inventive formats, the Philharmonic Sessions invite audiences to connect with the music – and each other – in bold new ways.
The next in a series of Philharmonic Sessions features an immersive reimagining of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. Conducted by Ludovic Morlot, this revolutionary work is brought to life in a performance powered by AVIVA’s state-of-the-art d&b Soundscape system and atmospheric lighting design, creating a dynamic soundscape. Audiences can choose how they want to experience the Orchestra – either up close in a BBC Proms-style standing arena or seated in the upper tier of the hall. This powerful retelling of Stravinsky’s iconic score invites listeners to experience the Orchestra like never before: surrounded by sound, close to the action, and fully immersed in its driving rhythmic energy (22 May).
Further season highlights
The BBC Philharmonic’s 2025–26 season celebrates the power of music to thrill, entertain and inspire, from orchestral blockbusters to cinematic soundscapes and genre-crossing collaborations.
Film music takes centre stage in Moving Pictures (25 October), a bold, live orchestral experience featuring scores from Interstellar, There Will Be Blood, Joker, Arrival, and Poor Things, with conductor Robert Ames leading the Orchestra through some of the 21st century’s most iconic soundtracks. The cinematic theme continues with John Adams’ City Noir (17 January), a swaggering, jazz-infused symphony inspired by 1940s and ’50s film noir.
Following a premiere performance at the BBC Proms, and tours across Europe and the US, pop idol Rufus Wainwright joins the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra to bring his symphonic reimagining of his Want One and Want Two albums to Manchester’s O2 Apollo, with brand new arrangements celebrating his blend of glossy pop, alt-rock, classical, jazz and French chanson (26 & 27 September).
The season also features high-octane symphonic showcases including Mahler’s Symphony No.1 ‘Titan’ (8 November), Berlioz’ Symphonie fantastique (25 April), Nielsen’s Fifth Symphony (16 May), and the return of pianist Paul Lewis performing Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto in a programme that also includes Charles Ives’ The Unanswered Question and John Adams’ City Noir (17 January).
The BBC Philharmonic Christmas Special lights up The Bridgewater Hall, conducted by Leslie Suganandarajah. With music from The Nutcracker to Duke Ellington, a special guest presenter, and festive surprises, this fun-filled concert offers the perfect opportunity to bring everyone together and experience the magic of a live orchestra (19 December).
The Orchestra’s new concert series at the RNCM offers relaxed, up-close experiences with dazzling repertoire. Highlights include Bartók’s Divertimento and Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings (5 December), and Stravinsky’s Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments alongside John Adams’ Grand Pianola Music (1 May).
The season also features some of the most powerful and emotionally charged works in the orchestral repertoire including Mahler’s Symphony No.2 ‘Resurrection’, 130 years after its first performance (13 June); Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10 (15 November); Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet (21 February), Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 (20 September), and Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle (24 January).
Partnerships
This season, the BBC Philharmonic builds on its collaborative spirit through a growing network of strategic partnerships that connect the Orchestra to new audiences, artists, and ideas — both locally and globally.
Two key partnerships underpin this work: with Factory International, home of Manchester’s AVIVA Studios, and the RNCM. Together with Factory International, the Orchestra is developing large-scale, immersive projects that reimagine how orchestral music is experienced — including the next instalment in its Philharmonic Sessions series, The Rite of Spring, and the UK premiere of Du Yun’s opera Angel’s Bone. With RNCM, the Orchestra continues its training and mentoring programme for the next generation of professional musicians, offering side-by-side performance opportunities, professional experience schemes, and presents a new concert series to showcase the Orchestra’s world-class musicians in intimate, close-up performances, including Serenade for strings (5 December), Music of the Sun King (30 January), and Grand Pianola Music (1 May).
As part of its educational work, the BBC Philharmonic announces a new partnership with Chetham’s School of Music, alongside ongoing collaborations with the Greater Manchester and Blackburn with Darwen Music Hub, and BBC Education, through projects including BBC Ten Pieces and Musical Storyland, now reaching international audiences with premieres in Germany and China.
These partnerships form the foundation of a season rooted in collaboration, curiosity, and creative ambition — ensuring the Orchestra’s work continues to reflect and inspire the communities it serves.
Children, Families & Learning
Engagement work for children and young people continues to be a vital part of the Orchestra’s work. From first musical experiences to career-defining professional development opportunities, the Orchestra’s learning programme has become an integral part of musical life for communities across the UK.
The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra offers a year-round programme of musical opportunities for schools, families, emerging performers and audiences of all ages. This includes family and school concerts, as well as interactive
workshops in primary schools delivered by our acclaimed musicians.
In collaboration with the family of BBC Orchestras and Choirs, we help maximise the impact of the BBC’s flagship music education initiative, BBC Ten Pieces. This project opens up the world of classical music to 7-14-year-olds, providing access to high quality performances of orchestral repertoire through a library of films, classroom resources, and instrumental arrangements. These are supported by curriculum-linked resources that encourage children to explore and get creative with classical music. To date, Ten Pieces has reached over 5 million children in more than 10,000 schools across the UK.
Co-commissioned with BBC Education and CBeebies, the award-winning hit TV series, Musical Storyland, has been streamed over 12 million times. This year, Musical Storyland Live! will make its international touring debut, with performances in German and Mandarin as the Orchestra takes the show abroad.
Closer to home, the Orchestra works in close partnership with the Royal Northern College of Music on a Professional Experience Scheme, providing invaluable training, mentoring, and side-by-side performance opportunities. The Orchestra also works in partnership with Chetham’s School of Music, Manchester’s specialist music school, to offer live and broadcast side-by-side performance opportunities to students aspiring to professional careers in music.
Together with the other BBC Orchestras and Choirs, the Orchestra also offers Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for teachers, particularly focused on supporting non-specialist Key Stage 2 teachers who are delivering the music curriculum.
The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra is proud to be a partner of the Greater Manchester and Blackburn with Darwen Music Hub, working with other orchestras and venues in the region to support the delivery of the National Plan for Music Education and making the plan a reality for every child in the region, regardless of background, circumstance, or financial means.
Live from the BBC Philharmonic Studio: BBC Radio 3 in Concert
Audiences around the world can also enjoy 12 broadcast concerts from the Philharmonic Studio at MediaCityUK. These 90-minute afternoon concerts are hosted by a range of star presenters from across the BBC on-air family and include Beethoven Symphony No. 7 (17 September), Haydn & Beethoven (21 November), Debussy’s ‘La Mer’ (9 December), The Blue Danube (16 December), Four Seasons in a Day (14 January), Beethoven’s ‘Eroica’ (25 February), Schubert’s ‘Unfinished’ (11 March), The Cunning Little Vixen (18 March), Bernstein’s ‘On the Town’ (16 April), Spring Symphony (22 April), Brahms: Double Concerto (7 May), and Brahms: Symphony No. 2 (13 May).
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