2025 2026
X I A N Z H A N G | M U S I C D I R E C TOR
SEASON
YOUR
IMPACT IN FOCUS Season-Opening Newsletter
“An auspicious beginning to a history-making tenure.” The 2025/2026 season opens a new era with Music Director Xian Zhang leading the Seattle Symphony and we are tremendously grateful to you — our generous community of supporters — for making this milestone season possible. With Xian just starting her tenure and with you by our side, the future of the orchestra is bright. We’re thrilled to share all the incredible musical moments Xian has in store for you in the second half of our season.
Xian’s first season began with a grand Opening Night celebration fitting the occasion. The charismatic pianist Simon Trpčeski joined Xian and the orchestra on stage for the concert, which was followed by our annual marquee Gala, where guests raised a glass to Xian and the Symphony’s new beginning. In its review of the concert, The Seattle Times wrote, “As the final note rang out to the nearly packed auditorium, the audience leapt to its feet to laud Zhang and the Symphony on a performance full of conviction and joy. It was an auspicious beginning to a history-making tenure.” We couldn’t agree more! Since she first conducted the orchestra in 2008, Xian has fostered a strong connection with our musicians and audience. From what The Wall Street Journal’s music critic, David Mermelstein, observed, it’s easy to understand why. “It’s her immediately perceptible warmth and charisma that distinguish her from so many of her peers; always beaming as she emerges from the wings, she hustles to the podium as if she can’t wait to start a performance.”
Xian with Rebecca Benaroya at the Opening Night Gala. Photos: Everything Time Studio
Xian will lead the orchestra in 10 dynamic programs during her inaugural season.
On the heels of the Opening Night Concert, Xian led the orchestra in performances of Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, a program that also featured an outstanding string quartet from the Sphinx Organization, which is dedicated to transforming lives through the power of the arts. Xian’s leadership and vision for the orchestra drew praise. “Zhang has a visually fascinating podium presence. While her right hand keeps the musical narrative on course with the aid of a baton, she makes an eye-catching variety of micro-gestures with her left to shape moment-by-moment nuances of expression. The result feels like a process of co-creation with the musicians rather than a topdown imposition of will. … In brief remarks before the concert began, Zhang invited the young guest artists to speak about their careers rather than introduce herself. By opening with a piece created to celebrate diversity in classical music, she framed the program with a clear message: amplifying a range of voices will be part of her vision as music director.” (The Seattle Times)
As we look forward to the second half of the 2025/2026 season, we can anticipate many more moments of inspiration and connection with Xian. Early in 2026, she’ll invite Seattle audiences to explore the music of Peking Opera with Qigang Chen’s Iris Dévoilée (Iris Unveiled). Written for Peking and Western-style singers and traditional Chinese instruments, the piece evokes Iris, the Greek goddess of the rainbow, and a vision of the “eternal feminine.” The Thursday and Saturday performances bookend the Symphony’s annual Lunar New Year Gala, where Xian will be joined by the concert’s featured artists, Symphony musicians and community partners for a festive celebration. Upcoming highlights also include Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 7 in June. A favorite of hers, Xian wanted her first Mahler symphony in Seattle to be his Seventh. Speaking of milestones, Xian’s performances will also be the first time the orchestra has performed this piece in 20 years! Xian will cap her inaugural season with one of the most famous symphonies of all time, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth, partnering with the Seattle Symphony Chorale for the first time as Music Director. The program pairs Beethoven’s 200-year-old epic with Artist in Focus Steven Mackey’s RIOT, a
contemporary work that places race and resilience in the foreground. We can’t wait to welcome Xian back to Seattle in the new year. Her inaugural season is just getting underway, and we’re looking forward to seeing her artistic vision continue to unfold in the season ahead — and for many years to come. Thank you for being a part of our Seattle Symphony family and for helping Xian and the orchestra share the joy of music with everyone in our community! Music Director Xian Zhang is generously sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. Charles and Lisa Simonyi and an anonymous donor. Xian Zhang’s position is generously underwritten as the Harriet Overton Stimson Music Director. Simon Trpčeski’s performance was generously sponsored by Paul Leach and Susan Winokur. Sphinx Soloists Rubén Rengel, Melissa White, Celia Hatton and Gabriel Cabezas’ performances were generously sponsored by Judith Fong and Mark Wheeler. Daniil Trifonov’s performances are generously sponsored by Patricia Tall-Takacs and Gary Takacs. Steven Mackey’s performances are generously sponsored by the James D. and Sherry Raisbeck Foundation. Performances of Xian Conducts Pictures at an Exhibition were generously sponsored by Lyn and Jerry Grinstein. Performances of Xian Conducts Rachmaninov were generously sponsored by Yuka Shimizu. Performances of Xian Conducts Saint-Saëns Featuring Daniil Trifonov are generously sponsored by The Nakajima Family. Performances of Xian Conducts Beethoven 9 are generously sponsored by the Nesholm Family Foundation.
Mark your calendar for these upcoming dates with Music Director Xian Zhang.
IN 2026
FEBRUARY 12, 14 & 15
APRIL 30, MAY 2 & 3
IRIS UNVEILED
MOZART
FEBRUARY 13
MAY 28–31
LUNAR NEW YEAR GALA
GERSHWIN
FEBRUARY 19–21
JUNE 11 & 13
SCHUMANN & BEETHOVEN
MAHLER 7
APRIL 23 & 25
JUNE 18–21
SAINT-SAËNS
BEETHOVEN 9
FEATURING DANIIL TRIFONOV
For tickets, visit seattlesymphony.org.
YOUR EVERYDAY YOUR NIGHT OUT YOUR COMMUNITY YOUR BENAROYA HALL
Amplifying YOUR BENAROYA HALL With the support of generous people like you, the Seattle Symphony is continuing to invest in making Benaroya Hall a welcoming place for everyone and ensuring each experience is extraordinary.
and expanded hospitality. Enhanced wayfinding throughout the building will also make navigating Benaroya Hall easier and more intuitive than ever before.
Over the summer, we saw the first signs of what’s next for Benaroya Hall as part of our Amplify campaign. The initial, exterior phase of construction included replacement of outdated marquees with dynamic new digital displays, improved lighting and the removal of four unused entry doors along Third Avenue to simplify wayfinding and prepare for upgrades happening during phase two of construction, beginning in the spring of 2026.
At its heart, Benaroya Hall is a civic gathering place, home to the Seattle Symphony and a wide array of local organizations, performances and public events. A new Community Room will create a flexible, welcoming space for pre-concert talks, classes and cultural events to complement our existing venues.
Through the $20 million Amplify capital campaign we are reimagining Benaroya Hall’s public spaces for a new era, enhancing the experience for everyone who comes through our doors and doing our part for the revitalization of our downtown core. With thoughtful design, we’re creating warm and inviting spaces that reflect the vibrancy of the community we serve. Once completed, Amplify will transform the guest experience. We’re introducing a stylish Overlook Lounge open to all, along with improved seating
Amplify ensures that Benaroya Hall will continue to serve our community for years to come. Whether you’re attending a Seattle Symphony performance, a National Geographic Live presentation or a special community event, these upgrades will ensure your experience is comfortable, inspiring and unforgettable at every turn. We are so grateful to the hundreds of community members who have joined us so far to help make this vision a reality. To learn more about Amplify and how you can get involved, visit seattlesymphony.org/amplify.
Welcome to the orchestra, Aaron! At the start of the 2025/2026 season, the Seattle Symphony welcomed a new member of the Second Violin section. Aaron Li is an avid chamber musician and ensemble player, and has participated in numerous prestigious music festivals. We invited Aaron to share a little more about himself to introduce you to our newest orchestra member.
How does it feel to join the Seattle Symphony? Aaron: It’s absolutely wonderful. I still can’t believe it’s true!
What are you looking forward to this season? Aaron: I am very much looking forward to our April concerts with Music Director Xian Zhang and pianist Daniil Trifonov. I have always had a special place in my heart for French music, so this program really speaks to me. And César Franck’s Symphony in D minor — his only symphony, actually — is one of my all-time favorites.
How did you get your start in music? Aaron: I started violin through an after-school program. We had limited options, only piano and violin. My mom encouraged me to choose the violin because I could carry it everywhere. I grew up playing in a string ensemble, so I have always known I like to play music with other people. It’s like another family to me. I didn’t intentionally pursue music as my career, I just loved playing music so much and life just led me to it!
What is your favorite part about being a professional musician?
It’s through your generosity that we can welcome outstanding musicians like Aaron to the orchestra. Keep an eye (and an ear) out for Aaron in the Second Violin section this season and thank you for supporting all the musicians of your Seattle Symphony!
Aaron: We get to do the thing we love most as our job! It’s rigorous and hard work, but we have lots of fun doing it. I’ve always believed that music has the power to make the world a better place.
“I’ve always believed that music has the power to make the world a better place.”
Support your Seattle Symphony with a year-end gift today! Gifts from caring people like you bring our music to life. Please make your gift before December 31 to help Music Director Xian Zhang and the orchestra unleash the power of music and bring our community together in the year ahead!
SCAN TO GIVE Make your gift today to do your part to keep the music playing!
206.215.4832 | SEATTLESYMPHONY.ORG/DONATE