CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA & CINCINNATI POPS
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THE CSO & POPS AT MUSIC HALL IS YOUR TIME AND PLACE TO
LISTEN DIFFERENTLY
DIFFERENTLY
Each season holds a place for the entire human experience — for joy and laughter, for inspiration and reflection — a place where music meets you exactly where you are. Whether it’s a beloved symphony or your favorite film soundtrack, experiencing a live performance is deeply personal. Each time you return, you listen a little differently, participating in something unique to that moment. You begin to hear the full range of what an orchestra can be — and what it can awaken in you.
Come explore the music of the 2026–27 season and let’s listen together.
Season Highlights
SURE TO SELL OUT! LANG LANG PLAYS RACHMANINOFF
APR 7, 2027 WED 7:30 PM
Cristian Mӑcelaru conductor
Lang Lang piano
A once-in-a-generation musician, world phenomenon Lang Lang brings his artistic flair to the CSO in a performance of Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto. The Orchestra’s virtuosity will be on full display — both while sharing the stage with this extraordinary guest artist and in our own performance of Enescu’s folk-inspired overture on Romanian themes.
George Enescu Concert Overture on Popular Romanian Themes Sergei Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2
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Credit: Sonja Mueller
JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA FESTIVAL
OCT 2–4, 2026
This three-day-long festival celebrates CSO Music Director Cristian Măcelaru’s enduring partnership with Wynton Marsalis. Featuring thrilling performances with the combined forces of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, violinist Nicola Benedetti and the CSO, this festival highlights new works and fresh takes on orchestral classics, while showcasing the multiple Grammy-winning JLCO.
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Cristian Măcelaru
Nicola Benedetti
MARSALIS PREMIERE & BRUCH’S VIOLIN CONCERTO
OCT 2 FRI 7:30 PM
Max Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1
Wynton Marsalis Symphony No. 5, Liberty (co-commission)
MARSALIS & MUSSORGSKY REIMAGINED
OCT 3 SAT 7:30 PM
Wynton Marsalis Violin Concerto Modest Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition orch. Ravel/Marsalis/Măcelaru
CSO PRESENTS: Jazz at Lincoln Center*
OCT 4 SUN 5 PM
The world’s premier jazz ensemble brings their unparalleled energy and unmistakable swing to the Music Hall stage. This festival finale will remind you why the JLCO remains one of the defining voices in the artform today.
*The CSO does not perform on this program.
Wynton Marsalis
Credit: Piper Ferguson
Credit: Andy Gotts
Credit: Alex Johnson
RAY CHEN, KORNGOLD & SHOSTAKOVICH
MAY 14 & 15
Superstar violinist Ray Chen brings the Golden Age of film to life with Korngold’s Violin Concerto.
Credit: Decca Records
COME AS YOU ARE
JAN 15 & 16
Steven Banks performs his own composition
Come As You Are. Works by Bernstein, Ellington and Jessie Montgomery round out an all-American program.
Credit: Chris Lee
GIL SHAHAM PLAYS TCHAIKOVSKY
OCT 30 & 31
Legendary violinist Gil Shaham, a performer who radiates endless joy, returns for Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto.
Credit: Chris Lee
MOZART & PROKOFIEV
APR 10 & 11
Isata Kanneh-Mason makes her CSO debut with Mozart’s reflective Piano Concerto No. 27.
Credit: Karolina Wielocha
BEETHOVEN & BERIO
FEB 27 & 28
The sheer virtuosity of the epic vocal band Roomful of Teeth adds a new dimension to an immersive and intellectually charged Berio experience.
Credit: Anja Schutz
LEA SALONGA
SEP 12 & 13
Broadway icon and singing voice of Disney’s Jasmine and Mulan, Lea Salonga joins the Pops for an evening of musical magic.
Credit: Raymund Issac
2026 - 27
CSO Season Concerts
As I enter my second year as Music Director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, my invitation is simple: Come with an open heart. Listen with open ears. Each time you return, listening a little bit differently — discovering new colors, new possibilities.
Let’s explore this music together and allow it to change us — each time, in a new way.
CSO Season Sponsor
Cristian Măcelaru Music Director
Leila Josefowicz, violin
Marta Gardolińska, conductor
Conrad Tao, piano
Credit: Tom Zimberoff
Credit: Bart Barczyk
Credit: Roy Cox
Credit: Shervin Lainez
Credit: Angela Orellana
Friday Mornings & Saturday Evenıngs
SERIES A 6 Concerts FRI at 11 AM or SAT at 7:30 PM
Make time for you with season tickets! Concerts are built-in moments to reconnect.
GIL SHAHAM PLAYS TCHAIKOVSKY
OCT 30 & 31 FRI 11 AM; SAT 7:30 PM
Kwamé Ryan conductor
Gil Shaham violin
Legendary violinist Gil Shaham returns for Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, where soloist and orchestra spar and soar in perfect synergy. Bridging centuries, Schubert’s Ninth Symphony and Carlos Simon’s Fate Now Conquers both channel Beethoven’s enduring influence.
Carlos Simon Fate Now Conquers
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto
Franz Schubert Symphony No. 9, The Great
CONRAD TAO, MOZART & PROKOFIEV
DEC 4 & 5 FRI 11 AM; SAT 7:30 PM
Gemma New conductor
Conrad Tao piano
Featuring Conrad Tao, returning to perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23, this concert is a sparkling journey through musical history. Four composers. One hundred years. Infinite wit, warmth and brilliance.
Maria Grenfell Clockwerk
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23
Sergei Prokofiev Symphony No. 1, Classical
Franz Joseph Haydn Symphony No. 104, London
COME AS YOU ARE
JAN 15 & 16 FRI 11 AM; SAT 7:30 PM
Cristian Mӑcelaru conductor
Steven Banks saxophone
In this celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, Cristian Mӑcelaru has crafted a program that weaves together a vibrant tapestry of American voices to tell the story of America through music — for this we use stories of love, spirituality, innovation and diversity.
Jessie Montgomery Snapshots
Steven Banks Come As You Are
Leonard Bernstein Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
Duke Ellington Night Creature
TCHAIKOVSKY & BRUCKNER: Epic Romance
FEB 5 & 6 FRI 11 AM; SAT 7:30 PM
Ramón Tebar conductor
From the rapture, and eventual tragedy, of young love in Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet to Bruckner’s soaring horn calls and vast sonic vistas, this “romantic” performance will sweep you off your feet.
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Romeo & Juliet
Overture-Fantasie
Anton Bruckner Symphony No. 4, Romantic
THE UNINHABITED ISLAND
APR 2 & 3 FRI 11 AM; SAT 7:30 PM
Louis Langrée conductor
Sunwook Kim piano
Louis Langrée reveals his “desert-island” favorites, starting with a foxtrot for orchestra that John Adams composed while working on his opera Nixon in China and closing with Kodály’s high-spirited folk energy, all framed around the romantic warmth of Schumann and Haydn.
John Adams The Chairman Dances
Robert Schumann Piano Concerto
Franz Joseph Haydn Overture to L’isola disabitata (“The Uninhabited Island”)
Zoltán Kodály Dances of Galánta
RACHMANINOFF SYMPHONIC DANCES
APR 23 & 24 FRI 11 AM; SAT 7:30 PM
Marta Gardolińska conductor
Leila Josefowicz violin
Journey through three powerful emotional landscapes, from intimate expressions of friendship, to haunting reflections of female heroines, all culminating in a transcendent, luminous finale from Rachmaninoff.
Mélanie (“Mel”) Bonis
Ophelie Salomé
Le songe de Cléopâtre
Karol Szymanowski Violin Concerto No. 2
Sergei Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances
Wynton Marsalis, trumpeter and composer
Víkingur Ólafsson, piano
Friday Evenings &
SERIES B | 6 Concerts FRI or SAT at 7:30 PM
JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA FESTIVAL
Cristian Mӑcelaru conductor
Wynton Marsalis & Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
Nicola Benedetti violin
PROGRAM A: MARSALIS PREMIERE & BRUCH’S VIOLIN CONCERTO
OCT 2 FRI 7:30 PM
Wynton Marsalis’ Liberty paints a bold, jazz-infused portrait of America at 250 and Nicola Benedetti takes on Bruch’s gripping Violin Concerto, laying its heart bare on the way to a fiery finish.
Max Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1
Wynton Marsalis Symphony No. 5, Liberty (co-commission)
PROGRAM B: MARSALIS & MUSSORGSKY REIMAGINED
OCT 3 SAT 7:30 PM
Nicola Benedetti unleashes the blazing spirit of Marsalis’ Violin Concerto in a live repeat of her Grammy-winning performance of the work, and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition gets a thrilling makeover with bold new colors, swagger and unstoppable energy.
Wynton Marsalis Violin Concerto
Modest Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition orch. Ravel/Marsalis/Măcelaru
LOUIS LANGRÉE CONDUCTS RAVEL
NOV 13 & 14 FRI & SAT 7:30 PM
Louis Langrée conductor
Anthony Limoncelli trumpet
Louis Langrée returns to showcase Principal Trumpet Anthony Limoncelli in his CSO solo debut and the dazzling breadth of Ravel’s imagination — from whimsical, fairytale soundscapes to swirling, hypnotic rhythms.
Maurice Ravel Ma mère l’Oye (“Mother Goose”)
Henri Tomasi Trumpet Concerto
Maurice Ravel La valse Boléro
CRISTI CONDUCTS BRAHMS
SYMPHONY NO. 3
JAN 8 & 9 FRI & SAT 7:30 PM
Cristian Mӑcelaru conductor
Víkingur Ólafsson piano
Florence Price’s Ethiopia’s Shadow in America depicts the plight of Africans, Víkingur Ólafsson returns for a Mark Simpson premiere and Cristi continues his exploration of Brahms with the composer’s deeply personal Third Symphony.
Florence Price Ethiopia’s Shadow in America
Mark Simpson Piano Concerto (U.S. premiere; co-commission)
Johannes Brahms Symphony No. 3
Credit: Piper Ferguson
Credit: Ari Magg - Deutsche Grammophone
Weilerstein, cello
Saturday Evenings
Don’t wait until your calendar fills up — make more time for music with season tickets!
DON QUIXOTE & ENESCU
SYMPHONY NO. 3
JAN 22 & 23 FRI & SAT 7:30 PM
Cristian Mӑcelaru conductor
Alisa Weilerstein cello
Christian Colberg viola
May Festival Chorus, Matthew Swanson director
Strauss blends motifs depicting humor and heroism to relate the larger-than-life story of the quixotic adventurer, and Enescu’s rarity, his Symphony No. 3, puts the CSO and May Festival Chorus on full display with its immense emotional and sonic scope.
Richard Strauss Don Quixote
George Enescu Symphony No. 3
EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN
MAR 5 & 6 FRI & SAT 7:30 PM
Cristian Mӑcelaru conductor
Alexandra Dariescu piano
This program celebrates the enduring impact of female composers, from 19th-century pioneers to Errollyn Wallen, “Master of the King’s Music” and a trailblazer of today. In a fitting finale, Wallen’s vibrant new work will fuse symphonic innovation with folk-inspired lyricism.
Fanny Mendelssohn Overture in C
Emilie Mayer Faust Overture
Clara Schumann Piano Concerto in A Minor
Errollyn Wallen Concerto for Orchestra (co-commission)
RAY CHEN, KORNGOLD & SHOSTAKOVICH
MAY 14 & 15 FRI & SAT 7:30 PM
Cristian Mӑcelaru conductor
Ray Chen violin
After the pure intimacy of Eunike Tanzil’s Remembering, superstar violinist Ray Chen brings the golden age of film to life with Korngold’s Violin Concerto, and Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony portrays a steadfast rebel practicing quiet defiance against the Stalin regime.
Eunike Tanzil Remembering Erich Korngold Violin Concerto Dmitri Shostakovich Symphony No. 10
“ No matter what kind of mood we’re in when we arrive, we always leave feeling lighter and calmer. ” - Season Ticket Holder
Ray Chen, violin
Alexandra Dariescu, piano
Alisa
Credit: Evelyn Freja
Credit: Nick Rutter
Credit: Decca Records
Saturday Evenings & Sunday Afternoons
SERIES C 6 Concerts SAT at 7:30 PM or SUN at 2 PM
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SONGS OF DESTINY
OCT 17 & 18 SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
Cristian Mӑcelaru conductor
Alexandra Conunova violin
May Festival Chorus, Matthew Swanson director
After the CSO plunges into the darkly mythic world of Lamia, Alexandra Conunova brings the fiery drama of Khachaturian’s Violin Concerto. Brahms then offers a final, compassionate epilogue, his choral works reflecting tenderly on the human experience.
Dorothy Howell Lamia
Aram Khachaturian Violin Concerto
Johannes Brahms
Nänie
Schicksalslied (“Song of Destiny”)
STRAUSS SPECTACULAR
NOV 21 & 22 SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
Philippe Jordan conductor
Dwight Parry oboe
In this Strauss spectacular, the blazing sunrise of Also sprach Zarathustra meets the luminous sweep of Death and Transfiguration. At the heart of it all, the Oboe Concerto, featuring Principal Oboe Dwight Parry, offers Mozart-like lyricism.
Richard Strauss
Tod und Verklärung (“Death and Transfiguration”)
Oboe Concerto
Also sprach Zarathustra (“Thus Spake Zarathustra”)
BEETHOVEN & BERIO
FEB 27 & 28 SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
Matthias Pintscher conductor
Roomful of Teeth
In this time-bending journey, Olga Neuwirth’s Dreydl endlessly whirls, epic vocal band Roomful of Teeth adds another dimension to an immersive Berio experience and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 brings the voyage home, its serene landscapes providing a radiant conclusion.
Olga Neuwirth Dreydl
Luciano Berio Sinfonia
Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 6, Pastorale
BACH ST. MATTHEW PASSION
MAR 13 & 14 SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
Cristian Mӑcelaru conductor
Louise Alder soprano
Karen Cargill mezzo-soprano
Nicholas Phan tenor
Morgan Smith baritone
May Festival Chorus, Matthew Swanson director
Bach’s St. Matthew Passion unfolds as a towering tapestry of human sorrow, divine grace and ultimate redemption, moving with breathtaking ease between intimate reflection and sweeping spiritual drama.
Johann Sebastian Bach St. Matthew Passion
MOZART & PROKOFIEV
APR 10 & 11 SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
Delyana Lazarova conductor
Isata Kanneh-Mason piano
The blazing fanfare of Orpheus’ Comet gives way to Mozart’s reflective elegance at the hands of Isata Kanneh-Mason, a pianist who makes her long-awaited CSO debut. Then, Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony propels the night to a whirlwind, high-voltage finish.
Dobrinka Tabakova Orpheus’ Comet
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Piano Concerto No. 27
Sergei Prokofiev Symphony No. 5
CRISTI CONDUCTS MAHLER
SYMPHONY NO. 9
MAY 8 & 9 SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
Cristian Mӑcelaru conductor
Mahler’s final completed symphony is a farewell to life. His vulnerability, felt throughout the entire work, is no more profound than in the closing silence, where we encounter a composer who has found peace in accepting his fate. That final silence may be the loudest statement Mahler ever made.
Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 9
Presenting Sponsor: Peter E. Landgren and Judith Schonbach Landgren
Alexandra Conunova, violin
Isata Kanneh-Mason, piano
Credit: Karolina Wielocha
Credit: Marco Borggreve
Credit: Alex Iordache
Credit: Anja Schutz
“ It’s wonderful to live in a city with a first-rate orchestra. It makes life better! ”
- Season Ticket Holder
“ Nights at the CSO make me feel much more a part of Cincinnati, and proud to live here. ”
- Season Ticket Holder
2026 - 27 Pops Season Concerts
Pops concerts are fun, thrilling and joyful — they allow you to listen to your inner child, your inner fandom, your heart beating to the rhythm of some of music’s greatest hits. Making time for a Cincinnati Pops experience is the best addition to your weekend plans, and, luckily, there’s a little something for everyone!
John Morris Russell Conductor
LEA SALONGA
SEP 12 & 13
SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
John Morris Russell conductor
Tony Award–winning Broadway icon
Lea Salonga returns to the Cincinnati Pops for an unforgettable evening of music and storytelling. Celebrated for her iconic performances in Miss Saigon and Les Misérables, and as the singing voice of Disney’s Jasmine and Mulan, Salonga brings her luminous voice and heartfelt artistry to a program filled with Broadway showstoppers, beloved film songs and timeless favorites — all soaring with the full symphonic splendor of the Pops.
Credit: Raymund Issac
BILLY JOEL SONGBOOK with
Tony DeSare
MAR 19–21
FRI & SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
Damon Gupton conductor
A concert for all generations of music fans: experience the legendary songs of Billy Joel backed by the power of the Cincinnati Pops!
Tony DeSare lends his signature vocals and dynamic piano playing to a symphonic celebration of the Piano Man’s most iconic rock hits. Hear favorites including “Only the Good Die Young,” “Just the Way You Are,” “Piano Man,” “New York State of Mind,” “You May Be Right,” “Movin’ Out,” “My Life,” “Don’t Ask Me Why” and more in this unforgettable tribute to one of music’s greatest storytellers.
Billy Joel does not appear at these performances.
Step into the sound of the Queen City—season tickets unlock a season of fun!
JMR’S ORCHESTRAL CANVAS
SEP 25–27 FRI & SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
John Morris Russell conductor
A true masterpiece for the senses, this unique live music experience takes orchestral classics like Gershwin’s
An American in Paris, Falla’s Three-Cornered Hat and Respighi’s Pines of Rome and pairs them with sweeping visual projections of some of the world’s greatest works of art — transforming Music Hall into a living gallery as images and melodies come alive together. A feast for the eyes and ears, this fusion of sound and art invites you to experience the Cincinnati Pops in a brand-new way.
SEP 5 & 6
SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
Damon Gupton conductor
Revisit the 2016 Academy Award®-winning film, La La Land, in a swoon-worthy concert experience featuring the Cincinnati Pops, a full jazz band and all of the unbelievable piano solos performed live-to-film.
in Concert
OCT 27 TUE 7:30 PM
Sarah Hicks conductor
Starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, written and directed by Damien Chazelle, La La Land showcases the captivating story of a promising pianist and aspiring actress who cross paths and fall in love, while attempting to harmonize their career journeys in the city of stars.
Alfred Hitchcock’s legendary thriller Psycho comes alive on the big screen as its spine-tingling score is performed live-to-film by the Cincinnati Pops. From the first ominous notes to the shocking final moments, Bernard Herrmann’s music drives the suspense, plunging you deep into a world of obsession, secrets and terror. Every scream, every heartbeat, every jump scare — heightened by the pulse-pounding effect of a live orchestra.
JAN 2 & 3 SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
Alex Amsel conductor
Steven Spielberg’s beloved 1991 classic Hook comes to life on stage as the Pops performs John Williams’ iconic score live-to-picture while the full film plays on the big screen above the Orchestra. Starring Robin Williams as an adult Peter Pan — now Peter Banning, a workaholic lawyer who has forgotten his past life in Neverland — the film follows his daring return alongside Tinker Bell (Julia Roberts) to rescue his children from Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman) and rediscover the magic of who he truly is.
STRAVINSKY X KENDRICK LAMAR
JAN 29 & 30 FRI & SAT 7:30 PM
Steve Hackman conductor
Who bears the curse — the puppet or its master?
Steve Hackman’s Stravinsky X Kendrick Lamar confronts this question in a daring fusion of Stravinsky’s Petrushka and Kendrick Lamar’s Pulitzer Prize–winning DAMN., two works linked by their “show-within-a-show” format and their protagonists’ struggles with identity and reality.
As Stravinsky’s puppets awaken to human emotion, the score weaves seamlessly through corresponding tracks from DAMN. — including “LOVE.,” “FEAR.,” “XXX.,” “FEEL.,” “LOYALTY.” and “HUMBLE.”
AMERICAN ORIGINALS BLUEGRASS SUMMIT
APR 30–MAY 2
FRI & SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
John Morris Russell conductor
Michael Cleveland + Flamekeeper
The Steel Wheels
Sister Sadie
John Morris Russell and the Cincinnati Pops celebrate American Roots music with a powerhouse gathering of today’s most electrifying bluegrass artists. Blazing a trail at the center of it all is Michael Cleveland, one of the most celebrated fiddlers of our time, with his Grammy-winning band Flamekeeper. Joining them are The Steel Wheels, known for their soulful Americana style, and the all-female ensemble
Sister Sadie, bringing tight vocals, crisp picking and bold bluegrass spirit. From tender ballads to barn-burning breakdowns, experience the raw virtuosity and close-harmony storytelling of bluegrass elevated by the rich, full sound of the Pops.
Holidays with the
Nostalgic favorites, new memories, moments of joy. Unwrap it all in a Pops Season Package.
NOV 28 & 29 SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
Duo Shen conductor
The Cincinnati Pops presents Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert featuring the complete film with the score performed live-to-picture! In this special holiday event, The Muppets perform Charles Dickens’ beloved tale, with Kermit the Frog playing Bob Cratchit and Michael Caine as the penny-pinching Ebenezer Scrooge, plus many more of your favorite Muppet characters.
HOLIDAY POPS
DEC 11–13
FRI 11 AM & 7:30 PM; SAT 2 PM & 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM & 7 PM
John Morris Russell conductor
Gaby Moreno vocalist
Celebrate the magic of the season with Cincinnati’s favorite holiday tradition! Each year, Music Hall fills with twinkling lights, the sound of nostalgic carols and the joy of thousands of audience members at Holiday Pops. Featuring talented choirs and dancers from around our city, plus special guests and a few surprises along the way, this is the Cincinnati Pops concert that captures all the wonder, warmth and togetherness of the holidays.
Pops
New Year’s Eve!
DEC 31 THU 8 PM
Byron Stripling conductor
On New Year’s Eve, the Cincinnati Pops becomes a soul-powered time machine and a living jukebox of some of Motown’s greatest hits. From the very first downbeat, the air crackles with that unmistakable Detroit groove — brassy riffs, velvet harmonies and basslines so smooth they practically dance on their own. You’ll hear from the iconic catalogs of artists like Marvin Gaye, The Four Tops, Diana Ross, The Temptations and the one and only Stevie Wonder, all sung by the incredible vocal talents of Chester Gregory — star of Motown: The Musical! — American Idol finalist Michael Lynche and superstar songstress Shayna Steele. This will be a feel-good, geton-your-feet and groove into the new year kind of party!
Lollipops Series
Share the wonder of orchestral music with your youngest listeners. Tickets are just $15 for adults and $10 for kids!
Series Sponsors
FERDINAND THE BULL
OCT 10 SAT 10:30 AM
Step into the gentle world of Bull, where a soft-hearted bull would rather smell flowers than charge into action. Through lively narration and playful orchestral music, the Orchestra brings Ferdinand’s story to life using the instruments of the orchestra to paint characters, moods and settings. With interactive moments and musical surprises, young listeners will discover how music helps a favorite story come to life.
PLAY BALL!
APR 3 SAT 10:30 AM
Step up to the plate for a grand-slam musical adventure! The excitement of America’s favorite pastime comes to Music Hall, where the crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd and the thrill of the game come alive through music. Cheer along and be part of the action as the Orchestra captures everything from pre-game warmups to ninth-inning heroics. Batter up — it’s time to swing into the music with the Cincinnati Pops!
Pops Series Packages
Add more joy to your calendar! Pops season ticket holders save over 30% on individual ticket prices.
POPS SIGNATURE
4 FRIDAY EVENINGS,
1 SATURDAY EVENING & 1 CHOOSE-YOUR-OWN
LA LA LAND in Concert
SEP 5 SAT 7:30 PM
JMR’S ORCHESTRAL CANVAS
SEP 25 FRI 7:30 PM
HOLIDAY POPS
DEC 11 FRI 7:30 PM
BILLY JOEL SONGBOOK with Tony DeSare
MAR 19 FRI 7:30 PM
AMERICAN ORIGINALS:
Bluegrass Summit
APR 30 FRI 7:30 PM
+1 CHOOSE-YOUR-OWN VOUCHER!
POPS SPOTLIGHT
6 SATURDAY EVENINGS
LEA SALONGA
SEP 12 SAT 7:30 PM
JMR’S ORCHESTRAL CANVAS
SEP 26 SAT 7:30 PM
HOLIDAY POPS
DEC 12 SAT 7:30 PM
HOOK in Concert
JAN 2 SAT 7:30 PM
BILLY JOEL SONGBOOK with Tony DeSare
MAR 20 SAT 7:30 PM
AMERICAN ORIGINALS:
Bluegrass Summit
MAY 1 SAT 7:30 PM
POPS CLASSICS
5 SUNDAY AFTERNOONS & 1 THURSDAY EVENING
LEA SALONGA
SEP 13 SUN 2 PM
JMR’S ORCHESTRAL CANVAS
SEP 27 SUN 2 PM
HOLIDAY POPS
DEC 13 SUN 2 PM
New Year’s Eve!
DANCING IN THE STREET:
The Music of Motown
DEC 31 THU 8 PM
BILLY JOEL SONGBOOK with Tony DeSare
MAR 21 SUN 2 PM
AMERICAN ORIGINALS: Bluegrass Summit
MAY 2 SUN 2 PM
POPS FAMILY SERIES
Add dedicated family time to your schedule with performances perfect for the young and young at heart. Select your own dates from these 3 concerts!
DISNEY’S THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL in Concert
NOV 28 & 29 SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
HOLIDAY POPS
DEC 11–13 FRI 11 AM & 7:30 PM; SAT 2 PM & 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM & 7 PM
HOOK in Concert
JAN 2 & 3 SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
DOES YOUR PACKAGE INCLUDE A CHOOSE-YOUR-OWN VOUCHER?
Complete your season with another Pops (or CSO!) concert of your choice — more to be announced in Spring 2026!
“ I love knowing that I will always walk away from a Pops evening feeling uplifted.”
- Season Ticket Holder
SEP 2026
LA LA LAND in Concert
SEP 5 & 6 SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
Damon Gupton conductor
LEA SALONGA
SEP 12 & 13
SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
John Morris Russell conductor
JMR’S ORCHESTRAL CANVAS
SEP 25–27 FRI & SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
John Morris Russell conductor
OCT 2026
CSO + JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA FESTIVAL
OCT 2–4 FRI & SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 5 PM
Cristian Măcelaru conductor Wynton Marsalis & Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
Nicola Benedetti violin
OCT 2: Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 and Marsalis Symphony No. 5
OCT 3: Marsalis Violin Concerto and Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition
OCT 4: JLCO only
LOLLIPOPS: FERDINAND THE BULL
OCT 10 SAT 10:30 AM
“ Every concert is so vibrant, and the variety of composers and guest artists keeps us coming back for more. ”
- Subscriber
SONGS OF DESTINY
OCT 17 & 18
SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
Cristian Măcelaru conductor
Alexandra Conunova violin May Festival Chorus
Howell Lamia
Khachaturian Violin Concerto Brahms Nänie & Schicksalslied
PSYCHO in Concert
OCT 27 TUE 7:30 PM
Sarah Hicks conductor
GIL SHAHAM PLAYS
TCHAIKOVSKY
OCT 30 & 31
FRI 11 AM; SAT 7:30 PM
Kwamé Ryan conductor
Gil Shaham violin
Simon Fate Now Conquers
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto Schubert Symphony No. 9
NOV 2026
LOUIS LANGRÉE
CONDUCTS RAVEL
NOV 13 & 14 FRI & SAT 7:30 PM
Louis Langrée conductor
Anthony Limoncelli trumpet
Ravel Ma mère l’Oye, La valse and Boléro Tomasi Trumpet Concerto
STRAUSS SPECTACULAR
NOV 21 & 22
SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
Philippe Jordan conductor
Dwight Parry oboe
Strauss Tod und Verklärung, Oboe Concerto and Also sprach Zarathustra
DISNEY’S THE MUPPET
CHRISTMAS CAROL in Concert
NOV 28 & 29
SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
Duo Shen conductor
DEC 2026
CONRAD TAO, MOZART & PROKOFIEV
DEC 4 & 5 FRI 11 AM; SAT 7:30 PM
Gemma New conductor
Conrad Tao piano
Grenfell Clockwerk
Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23
Prokofiev Symphony No. 1
Haydn Symphony No. 104
HOLIDAY POPS
DEC 11–13 FRI 11 AM & 7:30 PM; SAT 2 PM & 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM & 7 PM
John Morris Russell conductor Gaby Moreno vocalist
New Year’s Eve!
DANCING IN THE STREET: Music of Motown
DEC 31 THU 8 PM
Byron Stripling conductor
JAN 2027
HOOK in Concert
JAN 2 & 3 SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
Alex Amsel Conductor
CRISTI CONDUCTS BRAHMS
SYMPHONY NO. 3
JAN 8 & 9 FRI & SAT 7:30 PM
Cristian Măcelaru conductor Víkingur Ólafsson piano
Price Ethiopia’s Shadow in America
Simpson Piano Concerto Brahms Symphony No. 3
COME AS YOU ARE
JAN 15 & 16 FRI 11 AM; SAT 7:30 PM
Cristian Măcelaru conductor
Steven Banks saxophone
Montgomery Snapshots
Banks Come As You Are
Bernstein Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
Ellington Night Creature
Season at a Glance
Subscribe by APR 9 for first access to purchase LANG LANG tickets!
STRAVINSKY X KENDRICK LAMAR
JAN 29 & 30 FRI & SAT 7:30 PM
Steve Hackman conductor
DON QUIXOTE & ENESCU
SYMPHONY NO. 3
JAN 22 & 23 FRI & SAT 7:30 PM
Cristian Măcelaru conductor
Alisa Weilerstein cello
Christian Colberg viola May Festival Chorus
Strauss Don Quixote
Enescu Symphony No. 3
FEB 2027
TCHAIKOVSKY & BRUCKNER:
Epic Romance
FEB 5 & 6 FRI 11 AM; SAT 7:30 PM
Ramón Tebar conductor
Tchaikovsky Romeo & Juliet Overture-Fantasie
Bruckner Symphony No. 4
BEETHOVEN & BERIO
FEB 27 & 28
SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
Matthias Pintscher conductor
Roomful of Teeth
Neuwirth Dreydl
Berio Sinfonia
Beethoven Symphony No. 6
MAR 2027
EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN
MAR 5 & 6 FRI & SAT 7:30 PM
Cristian Măcelaru conductor
Alexandra Dariescu piano
Mendelssohn Overture in C
Mayer Faust Overture
Schumann Piano Concerto
Wallen Concerto for Orchestra
BACH ST. MATTHEW PASSION
MAR 13 & 14
SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
Cristian Măcelaru conductor
Louise Alder soprano
Karen Cargill mezzo-soprano
Nicholas Phan tenor
Morgan Smith baritone
May Festival Chorus
Bach St. Matthew Passion
BILLY JOEL SONGBOOK with Tony DeSare
MAR 19–21
FRI & SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
Damon Gupton conductor
APR 2027
THE UNINHABITED ISLAND
APR 2 & 3 FRI 11 AM; SAT 7:30 PM
Louis Langrée conductor
Sunwook Kim piano
Adams The Chairman Dances
Schumann Piano Concerto
Haydn Overture to L’isola disabitata
Kodály Dances of Galánta
LOLLIPOPS: PLAY BALL!
APR 3 SAT 10:30 AM
LANG LANG PLAYS
RACHMANINOFF
APR 7 WED 7:30 PM
Cristian Măcelaru conductor
Lang Lang piano
Enescu Concert Overture
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2
MOZART & PROKOFIEV
APR 10 & 11
SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
Delyana Lazarova conductor
Isata Kanneh-Mason piano
Tabakova Orpheus’ Comet
Mozart Piano Concerto No. 27
Prokofiev Symphony No. 5
CLASSICAL ROOTS
APR 17 SAT 7:30 PM
John Morris Russell conductor
Classical Roots Community Choir
RACHMANINOFF
SYMPHONIC DANCES
APR 23 & 24
FRI 11 AM; SAT 7:30 PM
Marta Gardolińska conductor
Leila Josefowicz violin
Bonis Ophelie, Salomé & Le songe de Cléopâtre
Szymanowski Violin Concerto No. 2
Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances
AMERICAN ORIGINALS:
Bluegrass Summit
APR 30–MAY 2
FRI & SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
John Morris Russell conductor
Michael Cleveland + Flamekeeper
The Steel Wheels
Sister Sadie
MAY 2027
CRISTI CONDUCTS MAHLER
SYMPHONY NO. 9
MAY 8 & 9 SAT 7:30 PM; SUN 2 PM
Cristian Măcelaru conductor
Mahler Symphony No. 9
RAY CHEN, KORNGOLD & SHOSTAKOVICH
MAY 14 & 15 FRI & SAT 7:30 PM
Cristian Măcelaru conductor
Ray Chen violin
Tanzil Remembering
Korngold Violin Concerto
Shostakovich Symphony No. 10
Support Your Orchestra
Elevate your connection to the CSO and Pops by giving to the Orchestra Fund today.
Your charitable contribution supports the artistry happening inside Music Hall and throughout the community.
Add a gift to your season ticket purchase or give now at: cincinnatisymphony.org/quick-donate
Photographed at the Roebling Bridge, from left to right: Gabriel Napoli, Associate Principal Viola; Ixi Chen, clarinet; Nicholas Mariscal, cello; Rebecca Pancner, piccolo. © Lyons Photography
Platinum Baton Circle | $50,000+
Anonymous • ArtsWave • Charles H. Dater Foundation • Dr. John & Louise Mulford Fund for the CSO • Ellen and Richard Berghamer Foundation
• Harold C. Schott Foundation / Francie and Tom Hiltz, Trustees
• Carl M. Jacobs Foundation • H.B., E.W., F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation
• Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund of the Greenacres Foundation
• Margaret McWilliams Rentschler Fund of Greater Cincinnati Foundation
• National Endowment for the Arts • Nina Browne Parker Trust
• The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation • Ohio Arts Council
• Oliver Family Foundation • PNC Bank • The Fifth Third Foundation
• The Lazarow Schwartz Family Fund• The Unnewehr Foundation
• Western & Southern Financial Group
Gold Baton Circle | $25,000–$49,999
Anonymous • George and Margaret McLane Foundation
• HORAN Wealth• Louis H. and David S. Ingalls Foundation Inc.
• The Cincinnati Symphony Club
• The Ladislas & Vilma Segoe Family Foundation
• United Dairy Farmers & Homemade Brand Ice Cream
Silver Baton Circle | $15,000–$24,999
BlaCkOWned • BT Rise • Johnson Investment Counsel
• Peter E. Landgren and Judith Schonbach Landgren • Millstone Fund
• The Procter & Gamble Company • The Rendigs Foundation
• Scott and Charla Weiss • Wodecroft Foundation
Conductor’s Circle | $10,000–$14,999
Roger and Jan Ames • Bartlett Wealth Management • Graeter’s Ice Cream
• Crosset Family Fund • Chemed Corporation • CVG Airport Authority
• Kelly Dehan and Rick Staudigel • Lynne Friedlander and Jay Crawford
• JRH Consultants • Messer Construction Co. • Metro
• Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP • The Daniel & Susan Pfau Foundation
• YOT Full Circle Foundation
Concertmaster’s Circle | $5,000–$9,999
Interact For Health • Richard and Carmen Kovarsky
• Queen City (OH) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated
• The Willard & Jean Mulford Charitable Fund
• Katherine and Tim Stautberg • Thompson Hine LLP
• WOW Windowboxes
Commission Underwriters
Kathy Grote • Ann and Harry Santen • Kari and Jon Ullman
Your Music, Your Benefits!
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Invitations to exclusive season-ticket-holder experiences
No charge for lost or forgotten tickets
1. Moments of Harmony — Already on Your Calendar
When life gets busy, season tickets ensure you’ve already made time for something extraordinary. Concerts are built-in moments to pause, recharge and simply listen.
“Having tickets in hand guarantees I go, and I never regret it.” – Season Ticket Holder
2. Peace of Mind Included
Season ticket holders receive guaranteed seats before the general public, plus flexible ticket exchanges.
“I’ve had to exchange my tickets, and it gives me peace of mind that I can still catch a great performance, even when plans change.”
– Season Ticket Holder
3. You Support the Sound of Cincinnati
Your subscription helps sustain extraordinary music in the Queen City. You’re not just attending concerts — you’re powering a tradition that has shaped Cincinnati for generations.
“CSO is one of the gems of Cincinnati. What a treat to have such beautiful music at my doorstep.”
– Season Ticket Holder
4. Community & Connection
Season ticket holders consistently tell us this is more than entertainment. It’s a tradition and a shared experience that strengthens their connection to music and their community.
“Attending the symphony is a part of our social calendar. We share the experience with friends and enjoy the full evening downtown on concert nights.” - Season Ticket Holder
2026-27 Season Ticket Pricing
Select a season ticket package tailored to your preferred day and enjoy over 30% savings on individual ticket prices.
Want More Flexibility?
Create Your Own series starting at just 5 concerts and save up to 25% on individual ticket prices! Plus, you can mix and match between CSO and Pops performances. Package pricing will vary based on your concert selections — visit cincinnatisymphony.org/create to order!
“ Exposure to cultural events through our CSO & Pops season tickets has provided us with the opportunity to grow intellectually and creatively, revisit beloved favorites, establish traditions and fill our lives in Cincinnati with a deeper sense of community. ”
- Season Ticket Holder
Credit: Sonja Mueller