RPO Cadogan Hall 2026–27 Season

2026–27 SEASON

ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA LIVE AT CADOGAN HALL

Welcome to our 2026–27 Season of concerts at Cadogan Hall As the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) turns 80, we’re in the mood for a celebration. Whilst the milestone allows us to reflect on the Orchestra’s glorious history, it is also an invitation for an exciting future. We’ve got a lot of stories to tell, and great music never gets old. Cadogan Hall is a place where music feels more direct, more intimate, more personal; and whether we’re bringing favourite pieces to life, premiering the classics of the future or welcoming our Music Director Vasily Petrenko, we draw our energy and inspiration from performing for you. Our brand-new Revealed concerts aim to get under the skin of the music and give you a closer connection to the RPO. This hour-long format sees award-winning presenter Leah Broad unwrapping the works in conversation with the conductor and musicians of the Orchestra, followed by a complete performance of each symphony. Vasily will be conducting Mozart’s ‘Jupiter’ Symphony in this new format, followed by Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony in a full concert later in the season. But that’s just part of a season filled with melody. Great composers get

back to basics, as Dvořák, Tchaikovsky, Liszt and Vaughan Williams explore the endless possibilities of folk music. There are symphonies by Shostakovich and Brahms, and a celebratory performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (with its Ode to Joy) led by Conductor-in-Residence, Adam Hickox. Our guest artists this season include RPO Associate Conductor Emilia Hoving, Zlatomir Fung, Jan Lisiecki, Ariane Matiakh, Sunwook Kim, Lucy Crowe, Alain Altinoglu and Johan Dalene; stars who make everything they play sound brighter. We’re thrilled, too, to welcome Liya Petrova – one of the most inspirational violinists of our time, in a residency that includes concertos by Sibelius, Beethoven and Stravinsky. But there’ll also be French fancies and Hungarian spice, a Christmas spectacular and a romantic night of classic love songs, because whatever the occasion, if something’s worth celebrating, it’s worth celebrating with music. Join us this season, as we raise the roof. Sarah Bardwell Managing Director, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

At a glance 2026 Thu 1 Oct Thu 8 Oct Wed 21 Oct Sat 5 Dec

Mozart Revealed Sibelius Violin Concerto Brahms 1 Christmas Cracker

2027 Wed 20 Jan Vasily Petrenko conducts Beethoven 5 Sun 14 Feb ’S Wonderful: Timeless Love Songs

Thu 25 Feb Wed 3 Mar

Beethoven and Dvořák Liszt Hungarian Fantasy: Hommage á Cziffra Thu 22 Apr Beethoven 9 Thu 29 Apr Beethoven Violin Concerto Sun 9 May Debussy, Saint-Saëns and Dukas Wed 19 May Tchaikovsky Revealed Thu 10 Jun Brahms Violin Concerto Thu 24 Jun Tchaikovsky 2

Thu 8 Oct 2026 7.30pm

Mozart Revealed

Sibelius Violin Concerto

Mozart Symphony No.41, ‘Jupiter’

Bacewicz Overture Sibelius Violin Concerto Vaughan Williams Symphony No.5

Vasily Petrenko Conductor Leah Broad Presenter

Adam Hickox Conductor RPO Conductor-in-Residence, 2026–27 Liya Petrova Violin RPO Artist-in-Residence, 2026–27

An enlightening one-hour exploration of Mozart’s ‘Jupiter’ Symphony, featuring insights and a complete performance. This concert has no interval.

RPO Legacy Giving Concert Image of Katie Birtill

Wed 21 Oct 2026 7.30pm

Thu 1 Oct 2026 6pm & 8.30pm

Sat 5 Dec 2026 3pm & 7.30pm

Brahms 1

Christmas Cracker

Debussy Prelude à l’après-midi d’un faune Osborn Sun Sundered Head: Nocturne for Cello and Orchestra World premiere Brahms Symphony No.1

Programme to include: Let It Snow!, It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, The Christmas Song, Winter Wonderland, Sleigh Ride, All I Want for Christmas is You, Jingle Bells, And much more!

Ariane Matiakh Conductor Zlatomir Fung Cello

Stephen Bell Conductor Katie Birtill Vocalist Oliver Tompsett Vocalist rpo.co.uk

Sun 14 Feb 2027 4.30pm

Vasily Petrenko conducts Beethoven 5

’S Wonderful: Timeless Love Songs

Rimskaya-Korsakova A Bewitched Place* World premiere Prokofiev Piano Concerto No.2 Beethoven Symphony No.5

Programme to include: So in Love, Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye, My Funny Valentine, The Way You Look Tonight, Someone to Watch Over Me, It Had to Be You, A Fine Romance, The Lady is a Tramp, And much more!

Vasily Petrenko Conductor Jan Lisiecki Piano

Richard Balcombe Conductor Sumudu Jayatilaka Vocalist Iain Mackenzie Vocalist

* Supported by the ABO Trust’s Sirens programme

Beethoven Piano Concerto No.1 Smetana The Bartered Bride: Overture Dvořák Symphony No.8 Sunwook Kim Conductor/Piano

Beethoven and Dvořák

Thu 25 Feb 2027 7.30pm

Wed 3 Mar 2027 7.30pm

Liszt Hungarian Fantasy: Hommage á Cziffra Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 Liszt Hungarian Fantasy Liszt Totentanz Kodály Háry János Suite: Song and Intermezzo Bartók Dance Suite Emilia Hoving Conductor János Balázs Piano

cadoganhall.com

Wed 20 Jan 2027 7.30pm

This concert is jointly presented by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Cziffra Festival.

Thu 29 Apr 2027 7.30pm

Beethoven 9

Beethoven Violin Concerto

Rossini William Tell: Overture Brahms Nänie Beethoven Symphony No.9, ‘Choral’

Tabakova Swarm Fanfares London premiere Beethoven Violin Concerto Shostakovich Symphony No.9

Adam Hickox Conductor RPO Conductor-in-Residence, 2026–27 Featuring vocalists Lucy Crowe, Claire Barnett-Jones, Ed Lyon and Neal Davies City of London Choir

Delyana Lazarova Conductor Liya Petrova Violin RPO Artist-in-Residence, 2026–27

Wed 19 May 2027 6pm & 8.30pm

Debussy, Saint-Saëns and Dukas

Tchaikovsky Revealed

Debussy, arr. Caplet Clair de lune Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No.5, ‘Egyptian’ Chausson Poème de l’amour et de la mer Dukas The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

Tchaikovsky Symphony No.4

Alain Altinoglu Conductor Lucas Krupinski Piano Nora Gubisch Mezzo-soprano

Adam Hickox Conductor RPO Conductor-in-Residence, 2026–27 Leah Broad Presenter An enlightening one-hour exploration of Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony, featuring insights and a complete performance. This concert has no interval. rpo.co.uk

Sun 9 May 2027 4.30pm

Thu 22 Apr 2027 7.30pm

Thu 10 Jun 2027 7.30pm

Thu 24 Jun 2027 7.30pm

Brahms Violin Concerto

Tchaikovsky 2

Farrenc Overture No.2 Brahms Violin Concerto Schumann Symphony No.4

Akimenko Angel, Poem-Nocturne Stravinsky Violin Concerto Tchaikovsky Symphony No.2, ‘Little Russian’

Alpesh Chauhan OBE Conductor Johan Dalene Violin

Kirill Karabits OBE Conductor Liya Petrova Violin RPO Artist-in-Residence 2026–27

Adam Hickox and Liya Petrova We are delighted to welcome Adam Hickox as Conductor-in-Residence and Liya Petrova as Artist-in-Residence for our 2026–27 Season at Cadogan Hall. We spoke with them ahead of the season. As Conductor-in-Residence and Artistin-Residence, how do you describe your relationship with the Orchestra? Adam Hickox – I’ve developed a personal rapport with a lot of the players which means a great deal to me – when that level of trust is afforded to you… you can immediately go beyond simply executing details and find a greater depth in performances.

Liya Petrova – Listening is at the centre of everything – the music begins to breathe when we are fully attentive and responsive to one another. I love the exchange of energy that happens on stage with an orchestra. What sparked your passion for music, and how did that passion develop into a career? Adam – As soon as I fell in love with music… I was drawn to conducting. I have never really looked back from that moment – and I see my role as one that combines enabling others to give their very best whilst advocating for the intentions and wishes of the composer. Liya – I had been asking my parents since I was three to buy me a violin. But the situation back then in Bulgaria wasn’t easy for musicians, so my parents didn’t agree. My uncle was a violinist and I asked him to find me a little violin… and from my first concert with an orchestra, my parents supported me endlessly. This season you collaborate in a performance of Sibelius’ Violin Concerto. What makes this concerto such a compelling work for both soloist and orchestra? Liya – I imagine endless Nordic landscapes, but also a very strongly human element. In my mind I see an elderly person sitting by the fire in the nature and telling the story of her life to her grandchildren. A story of fighting against time and destiny, of love and passion, resilience and courage. Adam – As Liya says, with Sibelius, you are immediately transported to the landscape of his native Finland – the Concerto’s opening presents a string texture that sends icy shivers down one’s spine. What follows… is at times some of the most ravishing music that he ever wrote, with a solo part that is… introspective and virtuosic.

What do you hope audiences experience when they come to hear the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Cadogan Hall this season? Adam – I hope that audiences can be drawn into a world where nothing else exists but the music. We want to offer you performances of the highest level. Liya – I try to create a strong emotional connection with the audience and the musicians… a moment where we communicate and give something to each other through music. Don’t miss Adam Hickox on Thu 8 Oct 2026, Thu 22 Apr 2027 and Wed 19 May 2027, and Liya Petrova on Thu 8 Oct 2026, Thu 29 Apr 2027 and Thu 24 Jun 2027.

HOW TO BOOK Tickets from £24* ’S Wonderful: Timeless Love Songs and Christmas Cracker tickets from £37* Under 18 from £9* Book as early as you can to secure the best choice of seats at the best possible prices.

Box Office Royal Philharmonic Orchestra rpo.co.uk 020 7608 8813

Cadogan Hall

cadoganhall.com 020 7730 4500 5 Sloane Terrace, London SW1X 9DQ 2 minutes’ walk from Sloane Square Underground station

Series Discount

Book 2 or 3 concerts save 15% Book 4 or 5 concerts save 25% Book 6 or more concerts save 30% Excludes Christmas Cracker concerts

Groups

Groups of 6+ save up to 35% School group tickets from just £5, subject to availability Call 020 7608 8840 to find out more and reserve tickets (Book 6 to 9 tickets online and immediately save up to 15%) *Prices subject to change & include booking fees.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra gratefully acknowledges the generous support of Arts Council England. Cover image © Andy Paradise

JOIN THE RPO CLUB RPO Club members can save 50% on up to two tickets for each of our concerts at Cadogan Hall and the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, as well as selected performances at the Royal Albert Hall. Join from £180 per year and receive additional benefits, including priority booking and discounted tickets. See rpo.co.uk/club or call 020 7608 8840 for details and to join.

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