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The Philharmonic Society of Orange County announces its 2025/26 season, featuring an impressive lineup of concerts and special events that celebrate artistry, innovation, and community.
“Our 2025/26 season is filled with musical inspiration, powerful moments, and heart-stopping wonder,” said President and Artistic Director Tommy Phillips. “With world-class orchestras, iconic soloists, and unforgettable recitals, this season celebrates the very best in music, bringing Orange County audiences extraordinary experiences to share together.”
The Philharmonic Society’s 72nd season opens with soprano superstar Renée Fleming, and includes artists such as Seong-Jin Cho and Joshua Bell, as well as renowned orchestras including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra led by Riccardo Muti, the Philharmonia Orchestra, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra led by the brilliant pianist Yuja Wang. The Minería Symphony Orchestra of Mexico also joins the lineup in its Orange County debut, bringing with them trumpet soloist and first prize winner of the 2006 Maurice André International Trumpet Competition, Pacho Flores, and an exciting program of Latin American works.
The season also features a collaboration between two of Denmark’s most celebrated ensembles: the GRAMMY®-winning Danish String Quartet, a returning fan favorite in Orange County, and the Danish National Girls’ Choir. The season will also include performances by other esteemed chamber ensembles, such as the Jerusalem Quartet and the Dover String Quartet.
A significant highlight of the 2025/26 season is America at 250, a celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary. The dynamic programming showcases the rich legacy of American music through an array of performances spotlighting American orchestras, composers, and artists. Audiences can look forward to new commissioned works by celebrated American composers: David Lang, Jerod Tate, Jessie Montgomery, and Christopher Cerrone.
Season Highlights
Renée Fleming (October 7, 2025): GRAMMY®-winning soprano Renée Fleming’s Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene blends timeless classical works with modern compositions, exploring our connection to the environment. Inspired by her 2023 GRAMMY®-winning album and featuring visuals from National Geographic, this program celebrates nature’s beauty while highlighting its fragility—a moving tribute to our planet as both muse and responsibility. Musical selections include Handel’s “Care Selve” from Atalanta, Maria Schneider’s “Our Finch Feeder” from Winter Morning Walks, and works by Puccini, Fauré, Bacharach, Grieg, and more.
Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen (October 11, 2025): Under the baton of Riccardo Minasi and joined by violinist James Ehnes, Germany’s Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen brings audiences on a captivating musical journey to Italy with Schubert’s effervescent Overture in the Italian Style and Mendelssohn’s iconic Italian Symphony. Filled with lively rhythms, rich melodies, and sun-soaked charm, this program captures the spirit and beauty of Italy through the genius of two Romantic-era masters.
Philharmonia Orchestra with Santtu-Matias Rouvali and Víkingur Ólafsson (October 21, 2025): The dynamic Santtu-Matias Rouvali leads the world-class Philharmonia Orchestra for an unforgettable evening of musical brilliance with Shostakovich’s monumental Symphony No. 5, a stirring masterpiece of drama, triumph, and emotional depth. Acclaimed pianist Víkingur Ólafsson, hailed as “Iceland’s Glenn Gould,” brings his poetic touch to Ravel’s dazzling Piano Concerto in G major, a work brimming with jazzy rhythms and lush lyricism.
Jerusalem Quartet (October 23, 2025): The Jerusalem Quartet, featuring Alexander Pavlovsky and Sergei Bresler on violin, Ori Kam on viola, and Kyril Zlotnikov on cello, presents a captivating program that showcases the depth and brilliance of the string quartet repertoire. The evening opens with Haydn’s Quartet in B-flat major, Op. 76, No. 4 (“Sunrise”), a radiant work full of lyrical beauty and masterful structure, followed by Janáček’s dramatic and emotionally charged Quartet No. 1 (“Kreutzer Sonata”). The program concludes with Beethoven’s monumental Quartet in B-flat major, Op. 130, featuring the powerful and intricate Grosse Fuge as its finale.
Nobuyuki Tsujii (November 2, 2025): Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii (Nobu), winner of the gold medal at the 2009 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, combines formidable technique and a natural giŌ for pianistic color. Despite being blind from birth, Nobu transcends the boundaries of music with his unique ability to express the purest forms of emotion through the piano, and his breathtaking artistry and expressive power have earned him a place among the greatest musicians of his generation.
Seong-Jin Cho (January 28, 2026): Celebrated for his profound artistry and technical mastery, internationally acclaimed pianist Seong-Jin Cho will perform a stunning program featuring Bach’s Partita No. 1 in B-flat major, BWV 825, Schoenberg’s Suite for Piano, Op. 25, and Schumann’s Faschingsschwank aus Wien, Op. 26. The recital concludes with Chopin’s enchanting 14 Waltzes, showcasing Cho’s unparalleled ability to bring both depth and brilliance to the piano repertoire.
Minería Symphony Orchestra of Mexico (January 29, 2026): Recognized as the leading Mexican conductor of his generation, Carlos Miguel Prieto conducts the Minería Symphony Orchestra of Mexico in its Orange County debut. Pacho Flores will infuse the evening with his signature fiery, virtuosic trumpet playing in Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto. The program features a dazzling array of works that explore the rich cultural tapestry of Latin America, including Paquito d’Rivera’s Venezuelan Concerto, which won them a Latin Grammy for Best Classical Composition, and the booming rhythms of Silvestre Revueltas’ percussive masterpiece, The Night of the Mayas.
Joshua Bell and Academy of St Martin in the Fields (February 27, 2026): Led by classical music superstar Joshua Bell, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, one of the world’s finest chamber orchestras renowned for its fresh and brilliant interpretations of the greatest orchestral music, will perform a dazzling performance of Saint-Saëns’ Violin Concerto No. 3 and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8. This event is co-presented with Soka Performing Arts Center.
Mahler Chamber Orchestra & Yuja Wang (April 22, 2026): The brilliant pianist Yuja Wang leads the Mahler Chamber Orchestra in an exciting program featuring Hindemith’s The Four Temperaments and Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 16. This performance promises a stunning display of both orchestral mastery and Yuja Wang’s virtuosity at the piano.
America at 250 Celebration
Concerts include:
Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Riccardo Muti (January 24, 2026): Following a sold-out performance in 2023, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra makes its much-anticipated return with the illustrious Maestro Riccardo Muti, bringing the sweeping romance of The Gypsy Baron to the dramatic power of Hindemith's Mathis der Maler, and the rhythmic intensity of Ravel’s beloved, Spanish-inspired ballet Boléro.
Great American Crooners (February 5, 2026): This concert is a tribute to the golden age of crooning, featuring timeless classics by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and Bobby Darin, performed by Jazz at Lincoln Center artists Robbie Lee, Shenel Johns, and Benny Benack III (Downbeat’s #1 Rising Star Male Vocalist).
Laguna Beach Music Festival: Tessa Lark & Michael Thurber (February 13-15, 2026): Artistic Directors Tessa Lark and Michael Thurber will blend classical traditions with American roots music, reflecting the spirit of innovation and collaboration. This residency will feature an impressive lineup of guest artists, including cellist Mike Block, pianist Jeffrey Kahane, pianist Sean Mason, saxophonist Eddie Barbash, harpist Charles Overton, and percussionist Javier Diaz. This residency will also include educational engagements and is co-presented with Laguna Beach Live!
Sphinx Virtuosi and Randall Goosby (March 11, 2026): Sphinx Virtuosi, a chamber orchestra of Black and Latino musicians, joins rising-star violinist Randall Goosby to perform works by African American composers Jessie Montgomery and William Grant Still, alongside Latin American influences, including works by Brazilian American composer Clarice Assad. This program explores themes of resilience, peace, and shared humanity, featuring stirring Cuban melodies by José White, Prokofiev’s Stalingrad Sonata, and Ginastera’s Concerto for Strings, celebrating music’s power to transcend boundaries and unite diverse voices.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra with Fabio Luisi & Hélène Grimaud (April 3, 2026): Led by Italian conductor Fabio Luisi, Dallas Symphony Orchestra returns to Orange County for the first time in more than 50 years. Pianist Hélène Grimaud joins the orchestra to perform Schumann’s romantic Piano Concerto in A minor. Russian soprano Sofia Fomina’s sweet vocals bring the evening to a close as she sings the child’s vision of heaven in Mahler’s Fourth Symphony.
Jeremy Denk (April 9, 2026): One of America’s foremost pianists and recipient of a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship and the Avery Fisher Prize, Jeremy Denk presents a compelling exploration of the evolution of American music, featuring works by Joplin, Gottschalk, Nina Simone, and Ives.
Danish String Quartet and Danish National Girls’ Choir (April 11, 2026): The Danish String Quartet and Danish National Girls’ Choir unite in celebration of the power of women through music. Opening with Caroline Shaw’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Allemande, the concert weaves through the stories of remarkable women like 12th-century Queen Dagmar and the raw, recorded voice of Marie Tang Kristensen from 1907. Featuring compositions by Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Lotta Wennäkoski, and Astrid Sonne, alongside cherished traditional Danish tunes, this program is a rich tapestry of female voices and artistry. The evening crescendos with a new work by David Lang, in wildness.
Larisa Martínez (May 10, 2026): Acclaimed soprano Larisa Martínez presents an evening of Latin American classical music. This program features a poignant song cycle by Narciso Figueroa, honoring Martínez’s Puerto Rican roots. The program additionally includes works by Alberto Ginastera and Heitor Villa-Lobos, taking audiences on a sonic exploration of Latin America’s diverse cultural landscape.
Dover String Quartet (May 12, 2026): Dover String Quartet presents an inspiring program that blends contemporary and classical influences. The evening features Jessie Montgomery’s vibrant Strum, Pura Fé’s Rattle Songs in a special arrangement by Jerod Tate, a captivating new work by Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate, and Dvořák’s beloved String Quartet No. 12 in F major, Op. 96 “American Quartet.” This compelling performance celebrates the dynamic interplay of tradition and innovation in string quartet repertoire.
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (May 14, 2026): Conducted by Jaime Martín, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra brings a versatile program, from the charming melodies of Mozart’s Haffner Symphony to the wistful, nostalgic sounds of Tchaikovsky’s Orchestra Suite and the world premiere of a new double concerto by American composer Christopher Cerrone.
Special Engagements
Family-friendly holiday offerings include two festive concerts: the angelic voices of the Vienna Boys Choir (co-presented with Soka Performing Arts Center) on Saturday, November 22, 2025, and the return of fan-favorite Canadian Brass on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. Both promise to create unforgettable holiday memories for all ages.
Assad Brothers: (March 1, 2026): The multi-GRAMMY® Award-winning, Brazilian-born guitarist brothers Sérgio and Odair Assad reunite for one final tour, celebrating a lifetime of breathtaking music and unparalleled artistry. With their extraordinary guitar mastery and signature sound, this legendary duo brings heart and soul to Orange County in a program that marks the end of an extraordinary musical journey together. In celebration of 60 years of touring, Sérgio and Odair Assad will release a new album of original works by Sérgio Assad and bid farewell to friends and audiences across the country. This event is co-presented with Soka Performing Arts Center.
Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy: Celtic Giants (March 17, 2026): Through dancing, singing, and music-making, Canada’s leading duo of Celtic music, Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy (together with their children and special guests), present a vibrant Saint Patrick’s Day program celebrating the unique talents, influences, and stories of the “first family of traditional fiddlers.”
Ticket Information
The 2025/26 season spans October 2025 through May 2026, with performances at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Soka Performing Arts Center, Irvine Barclay Theatre, and Laguna Playhouse.
Season ticket packages will be available February 1, 2025. Individual tickets will be available August 11, 2025.
For more information, contact Patron Services at (949) 553-2422 or visit philharmonicsociety.org.
