The Great Orchestra 25/26 Series is bringing three of the world’s finest orchestras to Steinmetz Hall
- Alastair Mac
- Jul 22
- 6 min read
Get ready for an extraordinary presentation of the world’s leading orchestras.
Bringing together the world’s finest orchestras, The Great Orchestra 25/26 Series returns to Steinmetz Hall for another banner season of brilliance.
The Great Orchestra 25/26 Series features three of the world’s finest orchestras bringing excellence and tradition to life in a setting built for them.
Honor a living legend as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates Sir John Rutter’s 80th birthday on January 15, 2026.
Listen to 125 years of excellence as The Philadelphia Orchestra commemorates a monumental anniversary on February 20, 2026.
And hear the world’s most revered musicians as the Vienna Philharmonic delivers distinction in every note on March 11, and 12, 2026.
with Bach Festival Choir
January 15, 2026 | Steinmetz Hall | 7:30 pm
Recognized as the UK’s most in-demand orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has been placing orchestral music at the heart of contemporary society for over seven decades. With their interpretations of the world’s great symphonic repertoire and a worldwide audience of over 60 million people, their work has fostered meaningful engagement with communities all over the globe.
The Orchestra performs an annual season of concerts in London’s Royal Albert Hall as Associate Orchestra, the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall and as Resident Orchestra at Cadogan Hall. From recording film scores to performing for British royalty to collaborating with crossover artists—opera stars and pop icons alike—the Orchestra’s breadth of work and role as a cultural ambassador for Britain have earned them the nickname “The Nation’s Orchestra.”
This momentous year, we’re honored to welcome them back to Steinmetz Hall as they’re led by illustrious composer and conductor Sir John Rutter. Be there to witness the living legend at work as Sir Rutter celebrates his 80th birthday and conducts his own masterful compositions right here in Steinmetz Hall, accompanied by Orlando’s esteemed Bach Festival Choir.
February 20, 2026 | Steinmetz Hall | 7:30 pm
The world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra strives to share the transformative power of music with the widest possible audience, and to create joy, connection and excitement through music in the Philadelphia region, across the country and around the world. Through innovative programming, robust education initiatives, a commitment to its diverse communities and the embrace of digital outreach, the ensemble is creating an expansive and inclusive future for classical music and furthering the place of the arts in an open and democratic society.
One of the “Big Five” American orchestras, The Philadelphia Orchestra has long pushed the boundaries of convention in the classical music realm, presenting the world or American premieres of such important works as Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 (“Symphony of a Thousand”), Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, Schoenberg’s Gurrelieder and Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances. The Orchestra even made movie history by performing the soundtrack to Walt Disney’s legendary animated film Fantasia. Be there as this legendary American orchestra performs for its 125th year in our acoustically-perfect theater.
Yannick Nézet-Séguin is now in his 14th season with The Philadelphia Orchestra, serving as music and artistic director. His connection to the ensemble’s musicians has been praised by both concertgoers and critics, and he is embraced by the musicians of the Orchestra, audiences and the community. In addition to expanding the repertoire by embracing an ever-growing and diverse group of today’s composers, Yannick and the Orchestra are committed to performing and recording the works of previously overlooked composers.
March 11 & 12, 2026 | Steinmetz Hall | 8 pm & 7 pm
In the course of its history, the musicians of this most prominent orchestra of the capital city of music have been an integral part of a musical epoch which, due to an abundance of uniquely gifted composers and interpreters, must certainly be regarded as unique.
The Orchestra's close association with this rich musical history is best illustrated by the statements of countless pre-eminent musical personalities of the past. Richard Wagner described the orchestra as being one of the most outstanding in the world; Anton Bruckner called it "the most superior musical association"; Johannes Brahms counted himself as a "friend and admirer"; Gustav Mahler claimed to be joined together with the orchestra through "the bonds of musical art"; and Richard Strauss summarized these sentiments by saying: "All praise of the Vienna Philharmonic reveals itself as understatement."
Born in Latvia in 1978 into a family of musicians, Andris Nelsons began his career as a trumpeter in the Latvian National Opera Orchestra whilst studying conducting. He was Music Director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra from 2008-2015, Principal Conductor of the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie in Herford, Germany from 2006-2009 and Music Director of the Latvian National Opera from 2003-2007.
Now, Andris serves as Music Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Gewandhauskapellmeister of the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig Orchestra. These two positions, in addition to his leadership of a pioneering alliance between both institutions, have firmly established the Grammy Award winner as one of the most sought-after conductors in the world today. A frequent guest conductor with the Vienna Philharmonic, Andris also embarked on an extensive tour with the world-renowned Orchestra across South Korea, China and Japan.
The series subscription includes three performances by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra and Vienna Philharmonic, with the option to add-on the second distinct Vienna Philharmonic performance.
As a subscriber, you'll even have the option to dive deeper into the music with our Concert Comments, where you'll hear first-hand the inner workings of these masters before the shows. Renew today and get ready for an extraordinary presentation of the world’s leading orchestras.
Learn more about the season and subscription renewals:
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