2026/2027 Season Announce Brochure

Welcome to our new season

As I look ahead to my second season as Music Director, I find myself returning again and again to two sources of inspiration that shape everything we do: nature and community.

In Seattle, you can feel the presence of both things — a city embraced on all sides by mountains, water and forests, and a vibrant local community that enriches and enjoys this city. I grew up next to the Yalu River, which forms the border between China and North Korea, so these landscapes resonate deeply with me. They flow naturally into the music I have selected for the 2026/2027 season.

This season is shaped by the natural landscapes that inspire us, from the sounds of springtime with Samuel Adams, Robert Schumann and Frank Bridge, to a journey across the Olympic Peninsula’s Elwha River with a Seattle Symphony co-commission from composer Annea Lockwood and flutist Claire Chase. I am especially excited to conduct our three-week Nature in Music Festival, featuring three monumental works inspired by nature — Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony, Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite and Ottorino Respighi’s Pines of Rome.

Community is equally essential. This season, you’ll see our continued commitment to local partnerships, artists and stories woven throughout our concerts. I have specifically been captivated by the work of Seattle Symphony Artist in Association Dale Chihuly, whose brilliant interpretations of nature have inspired both my artistic programming and this season’s bold design themes.

My hope is that the music you hear this season offers the same sense of wonder you find in the landscapes that surround us, and that you find yourself at home in this community of music at Benaroya Hall

Subscriber benefits

CHOOSE YOUR OWN SYMPHONY ADVENTURE!

Subscribing is the best way to get access to everything the 2026/2027 season has to offer. Subscribers get the best seats in the house and enjoy special benefits all season long! And there are plenty of subscriptions to choose from, so you can find the one that’s right for you. Pick a Curated Series package (available now!) to snag your pick of seats, save up to 30% over single ticket prices and get exclusive access to add-on concerts before they go on sale to the general public. Pick a Create Your Own Series package (available soon) to mix and match concerts across different series.

SUBSCRIBERS ALWAYS GET SPECIAL TREATMENT!

YOU CAN SIT WITH US

Love seeing soloists up close or prefer a bird’s eye view high above the stage? Only Curated Series Subscribers can reserve the same seats across their entire series and get first pick of seats before access opens to the general public.

YOU ARE ON THE ALL-ACCESS LIST

Special performances are announced throughout the season and can sell out quickly. As a subscriber, you get exclusive presale access to these tickets before they go on sale to the general public!

WE’RE AT YOUR SERVICE

Need to change your concert plans? Curated Series Subscribers and Create Your Own Series Subscribers always have access to FREE ticket exchanges. Want to add extra tickets for friends? Enjoy convenient concierge service in the Samuel & Althea Stroum Grand Lobby when you’re at a show.

Same great seat locations for every concert in your series

Your seats are saved for the next season!

Concert packages carefully chosen by the Seattle Symphony’s resident music experts

Early access to add-on concerts, with no additional handling fees

Save up to 30% over single ticket prices

Exclusive presale access to special performances all season long

AVAILABLE NOW: CURATED SERIES AVAILABLE SOON: CREATE YOUR OWN SERIES AVAILABLE SUMMER 2026: SINGLE TICKETS

welcome to the Symphonic Series

We invite you to discover our flagship Symphonic Series, which is the core of Music Director Xian Zhang’s orchestral programming. As a subscriber, you will experience a beautifully curated selection of concerts that explore many composers’ impressions of nature, connect you to our community and transport you to another time and place.

This season features many exceptional programs with Xian on the podium and exciting guest artists, including pianists Emanuel Ax and Gabriela Montero, violinists James Ehnes, Leila Josefowicz and Gil Shaham, and saxophonist Steven Banks. You’ll find monumental classics like Strauss’ Also sprach Zarathustra, Mozart’s Requiem and Respighi’s Pines of Rome, and enchanting explorations of nature with works like Schumann’s “Spring” Symphony, Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony and the Olympic Peninsula-inspired work, Elwha!, by Claire Chase and Annea Lockwood.

When you become a subscriber or renew your subscription, you have exclusive early access to the most in-demand concerts of the season. And, as a subscriber, you not only hear world-class music performed by the Grammy-winning Seattle Symphony, you lock in the best available seats and prices before tickets go on sale to the general public.

Subscriptions that fit your schedule

On the following pages, you will see the Symphonic Series package options across different dates and times, including newly expanded Sunday matinee offerings. Six-concert packages are designed for the music enthusiast with a busy schedule, 10-concert matinee packages are perfect for those who prefer not to stay out late, and 19-concert packages are for our Seattle Symphony superfans!

THURSDAYS AT 7:30PM (6A) OR SATURDAYS AT 8PM (6B)

THURSDAYS AT 7:30PM (7C) OR SATURDAYS AT 8PM (7D)

THURSDAYS AT 7:30PM (6E) OR SATURDAYS AT 8PM (6F)

SUNDAY MATINEES AT 2PM (10G)

THURSDAYS AT 7:30PM (13A) OR SATURDAYS AT 8PM (13B)

THURSDAYS AT 7:30PM (19A) OR SATURDAYS AT 8PM (19B)

package 6a or 6b

THURSDAYS AT 7:30PM (6A) OR SATURDAYS AT 8PM (6B)

SEPTEMBER 24 OR 26

Xian and James Ehnes

Xian Zhang conductor

James Ehnes violin

Seattle Symphony

BRUCH Violin Concerto No. 1

BERLIOZ Symphonie fantastique

Xian starts the Symphonic Series with a dose of Romantic-era firepower in Bruch and Berlioz. Bruch’s soaring First Violin Concerto features Seattle audience favorite James Ehnes, while Berlioz’s darkly autobiographical Symphonie fantastique offers the ultimate orchestra fever dream with its dynamic moods and adventurous orchestration.

NOVEMBER 12 OR 14

Tchaikovsky’s First Piano

Concerto and Zarathustra

Xian Zhang conductor

Tony Siqi Yun piano

Seattle Symphony

TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 1

R. STRAUSS Also sprach Zarathustra

Feel the full might of the orchestra as Xian tackles two monumental works: Richard Strauss’ imposing Also sprach Zarathustra, indelibly associated with the film 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Tchaikovsky’s iconic First Piano Concerto. Rising piano superstar Tony Siqi Yun makes his Seattle Symphony debut.

FEBRUARY 11 OR 13

Xian Conducts The Sounds of Spain

Xian Zhang conductor

Noah Geller violin

Seattle Symphony

LALO Symphonie espagnole

GINASTERA Four Dances from Estancia RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Capriccio espagnol

This celebration of Spanish and South American dance rhythms travels from the Iberian Peninsula with Lalo’s flamenco-inspired Symphonie espagnole, featuring Concertmaster Noah Geller, to the Argentinian countryside with Ginastera’s evocative Four Dances from Estancia, and back to Andalucía with RimskyKorsakov’s adoring orchestrations of the region’s folk music.

Noah Geller’s position is generously underwritten as the David & Amy Fulton Concertmaster.

APRIL

8 OR 10

Grieg’s Peer Gynt with Xian

Xian Zhang conductor

Helen Kim violin

Seattle Symphony

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS The Lark Ascending

GRIEG Peer Gynt Suite (Xian Zhang’s selections) WEBERN Im Sommerwind (In the Summer Wind) SCRIABIN Poem of Ecstasy

Xian opens her three-week Nature in Music Festival with musical visions of nature that create an exhilarating adventure inspired by natural settings: Vaughan Williams’ serene Lark Ascending, Grieg’s bucolic Peer Gynt Suite and Webern’s idyll for orchestra, Im Sommerwind Scriabin’s intoxicating Poem of Ecstasy rounds out the program.

Helen Kim’s position is generously underwritten as the Clowes Family Associate Concertmaster.

APRIL 29 OR MAY 1

Shostakovich’s 10th Symphony

David Afkham conductor

Steven Osborne piano

Seattle Symphony

SAARIAHO Lumière et Pésanteur (Light and Gravity)

LUTOSŁAWSKI Piano Concerto

SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 10

Tragedy, despair, terror and violence come to a triumphant conclusion in Shostakovich’s 10th Symphony, written in the wake of Stalin’s death and widely considered to be an indictment of his dictatorship. Conductor David Afkham returns to our stage for this exciting program, which also features Steven Osborne performing Lutosławski’s capriciousand lightinfused Piano Concerto.

JUNE 3 OR 5

Mahler’s Fourth Symphony

Nicholas Carter conductor

Patricia Westley soprano

Seattle Symphony

R. STRAUSS Träumerei am Kamin (Dreaming by the Fireside) from Intermezzo

DEBUSSY (arr. Brett Dean) Ariettes Oubliées (Forgotten Songs)

MAHLER Symphony No. 4

Nicholas Carter reunites with the orchestra to conduct Mahler’s Fourth Symphony — inspired by a child’s version of the delights of heaven.

A lush Debussy song cycle with poignant texts by French poet Paul Verlaine receives its Seattle Symphony premiere, interpreted by soprano Patricia Westley who also makes her first appearance on our stage.

package 7c or 7d

THURSDAYS AT 7:30PM (7C) OR SATURDAYS AT 8PM (7D)

OCTOBER 22 OR 24

Morlot Conducts The Sounds of Spring

Ludovic Morlot conductor

Conor Hanick piano

Seattle Symphony

BRIDGE Enter Spring

SAMUEL ADAMS No Such Spring

R. SCHUMANN Symphony No. 1, “Spring”

Conductor Emeritus Ludovic Morlot returns to Benaroya Hall as the leaves change, bringing the eternal optimism and anticipation of springtime with three expressly spring-themed orchestral works. Schumann’s jubilant “Spring” Symphony showcases our tremendous brass section. Seattle-based composer Samuel Adams’ No Such Spring explores the delay and anticipation of the season — featuring pianist and new music champion Conor Hanick. Bridge’s ecstatic Enter Spring opens the program.

Ludovic Morlot’s position is generously underwritten as the Judith Fong Conductor Emeritus.

NOVEMBER 19 OR 21

Mozart’s Requiem with Xian

Xian Zhang conductor

Eric Schweikert timpani

Mei Gui Zhang soprano

Sarah Larsen mezzo-soprano

Eric Ferring tenor

Dashon Burton bass

Seattle Symphony Chorale

Seattle Symphony

JOE PEREIRA Timpani Concerto (Seattle Symphony Co-Commission and World Premiere) MOZART Requiem

Mozart’s towering Requiem, an intimate insight into the composer’s final musical thoughts, is brought to life with the Seattle Symphony Chorale and a quartet of soloists. Principal Timpani Eric Schweikert takes center stage for the world premiere of Joseph Pereira’s Timpani Concerto, a Seattle Symphony co-commission.

FEBRUARY 4 OR 6

Tchaikovsky’s Manfred with Xian

Xian Zhang conductor

Steven Banks saxophone

Seattle Symphony

IBERT Concertino da camera

STEVEN BANKS Come As You Are TCHAIKOVSKY Manfred Symphony

Tchaikovsky broodingly dramatizes the Byronic hero Manfred as he wanders in wild mountains, seeking comfort and meaning from Nature in this awe-inspiring symphony. Brilliant saxophonist Steven Banks performs his own ode to family, spirituality and Black sacred music, Come As You Are

MARCH 11 OR 13

Xian Conducts Scheherazade

Xian Zhang conductor

Seattle Symphony

SMETANA The Moldau

STEVEN MACKEY Concerto for Orchestra (Seattle Symphony Co-Commission and World Premiere)

RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Scheherazade

Smetana creates a sonic voyage along the Moldau River, Steven Mackey’s latest concerto showcases the Seattle Symphony from one corner of the stage to the other, and the orchestra whirls through Middle Eastern folklore in Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade.

APRIL

15 OR 17

Beethoven’s Pastoral and Gil Shaham

Xian Zhang conductor

Gil Shaham violin

Seattle Symphony

DVOŘÁK Violin Concerto

BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral”

Join Beethoven on a musical stroll through the countryside with his “Pastoral” Symphony, then let the great virtuoso Gil Shaham take you on a Slavic adventure in Dvořák’s sensual, rarely heard Violin Concerto.

MAY 13 OR 14

Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto

Alexander Shelley conductor

Benjamin Grosvenor piano

Seattle Symphony

IAN CUSSON IQ84: Sinfonietta Metamoderna

RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto No. 2

SIBELIUS Symphony No. 2

Conductor Alexander Shelley and pianist Benjamin Grosvenor return for Rachmaninov’s moody and melodic Second Piano Concerto, then Sibelius’ dramatic Second Symphony, associated with Finland’s struggle for independence.

Saturday subscribers will attend the Friday, May 14 performance at 8pm.

JUNE

24 OR 26

Wagner’s The Ring Without Words

Xian Zhang conductor

George Li piano

Seattle Symphony

LISZT Piano Concerto No. 2

WAGNER (Arr. Maazel) The Ring Without Words

All 18 hours of Wagner’s four-part Ring cycle are distilled into 60 thrilling minutes in The Ring Without Words, a purely symphonic journey.

Soloist George Li balances the program with Liszt’s fiery Second Piano Concerto.

Package 6e or 6F

THURSDAYS AT 7:30PM (6E) OR SATURDAYS AT 8PM (6F)

NOVEMBER 5 OR 7

Leila Josefowicz Returns

Jonathan Stockhammer conductor

Leila Josefowicz violin

Seattle Symphony

UNSUK CHIN Rocaná (Room of Light)

SZYMANOWSKI Violin Concerto No. 2

STRAVINSKY Petrushka (1947)

In Petrushka, Stravinsky quotes Russian folk songs in a lively work about three puppets — among them the awkward clown Petrushka — who are charmed to life by a flute-playing showman. The traditional folk music of southern Poland pervades Szymanowski’s Second Violin Concerto, performed by the virtuosic soloist Leila Josefowicz.

JANUARY 28 OR 30

Xian and Emanuel Ax

Xian Zhang conductor

Emanuel Ax piano

Seattle Symphony

HAYDN Symphony No. 82, “The Bear”

MOZART Piano Concerto No. 25, K.503

MOZART Eine kleine Nachtmusik (A Little Night Music)

HAYDN Symphony No. 87

It’s an homage to two iconic composers of the Classical era. Two of Haydn’s Paris Symphonies, Nos. 82 and 87, are paired with Mozart’s effervescent and enduringly popular serenade for strings, Eine kleine Nachtmusik (A Little Night Music), and his elegant Piano Concerto No. 25, featuring world-renowned soloist Emanuel Ax.

FEBRUARY 25 OR 27

Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times

Timothy Brock conductor

Seattle Symphony

CHAPLIN Modern Times

Charlie Chaplin directed, starred in and composed the film score for this final “Little Tramp” adventure, Modern Times, full of mayhem and widely considered to be his greatest work. Experience the iconic 1936 part-talkie film projected above the stage as the Seattle Symphony performs Chaplin’s score in perfect synchronicity.

MARCH 18 OR 20

Berlioz’s Romeo and Juliet

Hugh Wolff conductor

J’Nai Bridges mezzo-soprano

Seattle Symphony Chorale

Seattle Symphony

BERLIOZ Roméo et Juliette, Op. 17

International star and beloved Tacoma-area mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges joins the orchestra and Seattle Symphony Chorale to perform Berlioz’s exquisite musical rendering of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Rather than being a literal retelling, this musical depiction of the tragedy is rooted in Berlioz’s passionate response to Shakespeare and actress Harriet Smithson, who later became his wife.

APRIL 22 OR 24

Pines & Fountains of Rome with Xian

Xian Zhang conductor

Gabriela Montero piano

Seattle Symphony

GABRIELA MONTERO Piano Concerto No. 1, “Latin”

RESPIGHI Fountains of Rome

RESPIGHI Pines of Rome

We look to Italy for the third weekend of Xian’s nature-inspired festival. Respighi’s radiant Fountains and Pines of Rome extoll the harmonious, enchanting relationship between the Eternal City and nature. And the Seattle Symphony is joined by virtuoso pianist Gabriela Montero to perform her effervescent and reflective Piano Concerto No. 1, “Latin.”

JUNE 17 OR 19

Xian Conducts Brahms

Xian Zhang conductor

Daniel Lozakovich violin

Seattle Symphony

BRAHMS Symphony No. 3

BRAHMS Violin Concerto

This all-Brahms program features two sides of the composer: the introvert and extrovert. Join Music Director Xian Zhang and the Seattle Symphony as they indulge our ears in the serene and noble Symphony No. 3, followed by the dramatic Violin Concerto, featuring Swedish soloist Daniel Lozakovich.

SYMPHONIC SERIES

Package 10G

SUNDAY MATINEES AT 2PM (10G)

SEPTEMBER 27

Xian and James Ehnes

Xian Zhang conductor

James Ehnes violin

Seattle Symphony

BRUCH Violin Concerto No. 1

BERLIOZ Symphonie fantastique

Xian starts the Symphonic Series with a dose of Romantic-era firepower in Bruch and Berlioz. Bruch’s soaring First Violin Concerto features Seattle audience favorite James Ehnes, while Berlioz’s darkly autobiographical Symphonie fantastique offers the ultimate orchestra fever dream with its dynamic moods and adventurous orchestration.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

NOVEMBER 15

Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto and Zarathustra

Xian Zhang conductor

Tony Siqi Yun piano

Seattle Symphony

TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 1

R. STRAUSS Also sprach Zarathustra

Feel the full might of the orchestra as Xian tackles two monumental works: Richard Strauss’ imposing Also sprach Zarathustra, indelibly associated with the film 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Tchaikovsky’s iconic First Piano Concerto. Rising piano superstar Tony Siqi Yun makes his Seattle Symphony debut.

NOVEMBER 22

Mozart’s Requiem with Xian

Xian Zhang conductor

Eric Schweikert timpani

Mei Gui Zhang soprano

Sarah Larsen mezzo-soprano

Eric Ferring tenor

Dashon Burton bass

Seattle Symphony Chorale

Seattle Symphony

JOE PEREIRA Timpani Concerto (Seattle Symphony Co-Commission and World Premiere)

MOZART Requiem

Mozart’s towering Requiem, an intimate insight into the composer’s final musical thoughts, is brought to life with the Seattle Symphony Chorale and a quartet of soloists. Principal Timpani Eric Schweikert takes center stage for the world premiere of Joseph Pereira’s Timpani Concerto, a Seattle Symphony co-commission.

FEBRUARY 7

Tchaikovsky’s Manfred with Xian

Xian Zhang conductor

Steven Banks saxophone

Seattle Symphony

IBERT Concertino da camera

STEVEN BANKS Come As You Are

TCHAIKOVSKY Manfred Symphony

Tchaikovsky broodingly dramatizes the Byronic hero Manfred as he wanders in wild mountains, seeking comfort and meaning from Nature in this awe-inspiring, large-scale symphony. Two other works feature brilliant saxophonist Steven Banks: Ibert’s sprightly Concertino da camera and Banks’ own ode to family, spirituality and Black sacred music, Come As You Are.

SUNDAY MATINEES EXPANDED BY POPULAR DEMAND!

SYMPHONIC

SERIES

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Package 10G

SUNDAY MATINEES AT 2PM (10G)

FEBRUARY 28

Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times

Timothy Brock conductor

Seattle Symphony

CHAPLIN Modern Times

Charlie Chaplin directed, starred in and composed the film score for this final “Little Tramp” adventure, Modern Times, full of mayhem and widely considered to be his greatest work. Experience the iconic 1936 part-talkie film projected above the stage as the Seattle Symphony performs Chaplin’s score in perfect synchronicity.

MARCH 21

Berlioz’s Romeo and Juliet

Hugh Wolff conductor

J’Nai Bridges mezzo-soprano

Seattle Symphony Chorale

Seattle Symphony

BERLIOZ Roméo et Juliette, Op. 17

International star and beloved Tacomaarea mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges joins the orchestra and Seattle Symphony Chorale to perform Berlioz’s exquisite musical rendering of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Rather than being a literal retelling, this musical depiction of the tragedy is rooted in Berlioz’s passionate response to Shakespeare and actress Harriet Smithson, who later became his wife.

APRIL 18

Beethoven’s Pastoral and Gil Shaham

Xian Zhang conductor

Gil Shaham violin

Seattle Symphony

DVOŘÁK Violin Concerto

BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral” Our musical tour continues for the second weekend of Xian’s nature-inspired festival. Join Beethoven on a musical stroll through the countryside with his “Pastoral” Symphony, then let the great virtuoso Gil Shaham take you on a Slavic adventure in Dvořák’s sensual, rarely heard Violin Concerto.

APRIL 25 Pines & Fountains of Rome with Xian

Xian Zhang conductor

Gabriela Montero piano

Seattle Symphony

GABRIELA MONTERO Piano Concerto No. 1, “Latin”

RESPIGHI Fountains of Rome

RESPIGHI Pines of Rome

We look to Italy for the third weekend of Xian’s nature-inspired festival. Respighi’s radiant Fountains and Pines of Rome extoll the harmonious, enchanting relationship between the Eternal City and nature. And the Seattle Symphony is joined by virtuoso pianist Gabriela Montero to perform her effervescent and reflective Piano Concerto No. 1, “Latin.”

JUNE 6

Mahler’s Fourth Symphony

Nicholas Carter conductor

Patricia Westley soprano

Seattle Symphony

R. STRAUSS Träumerei am Kamin (Dreaming by the Fireside) from Intermezzo

DEBUSSY (arr. Brett Dean) Ariettes Oubliées (Forgotten Songs)

MAHLER Symphony No. 4

Nicholas Carter reunites with the orchestra to conduct Mahler’s Fourth Symphony — inspired by a child’s version of the delights of heaven. A lush Debussy song cycle with poignant texts by French poet Paul Verlaine receives its Seattle Symphony premiere, interpreted by soprano Patricia Westley who also makes her first appearance on our stage.

SUNDAY

JUNE 20

Xian Conducts Brahms

Xian Zhang conductor Daniel Lozakovich violin Seattle Symphony

BRAHMS Symphony No. 3

BRAHMS Violin Concerto

This all-Brahms program features two sides of the composer: the introvert and extrovert. Join Xian and the Seattle Symphony as they indulge our ears in the serene and noble Symphony No. 3, followed by the dramatic Violin Concerto, featuring Swedish soloist Daniel Lozakovich.

SYMPHONIC SERIES

Package 13A OR 13B

THURSDAYS AT 7:30PM (13A) OR SATURDAYS AT 8PM (13B)

The 13A package includes all concerts from the 7C + 6E packages. The 13B package includes all concerts from the 7D + 6F packages.

OCTOBER 22 OR 24

Morlot Conducts The Sounds of Spring

NOVEMBER 5 OR 7

Leila Josefowicz Returns

NOVEMBER 19 OR 21

Mozart’s Requiem with Xian

JANUARY 28 OR 30

Xian and Emanuel Ax

FEBRUARY 4 OR 6

Tchaikovsky’s Manfred with Xian

FEBRUARY 25 OR 27

Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times

MARCH 11 OR 13

Xian Conducts Scheherazade

MARCH 18 OR 20

Berlioz’s Romeo and Juliet

APRIL 15 OR 17

Beethoven’s Pastoral and Gil Shaham

APRIL 22 OR 24

Pines & Fountains of Rome with Xian

MAY 13 OR 14

Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto

Saturday subscribers will attend the Friday, May 14 performance at 8pm.

JUNE 17 OR 19

Xian Conducts Brahms

JUNE 24 OR 26

Wagner’s The Ring Without Words

Package 19A OR 19B

THURSDAYS AT 7:30PM (19A) OR SATURDAYS AT 8PM (19B)

The 19A and 19B packages each include a complete set of Symphonic Series concerts.

SEPTEMBER 24 OR 26

Xian and James Ehnes

OCTOBER 22 OR 24

Morlot Conducts The Sounds of Spring

NOVEMBER 5 OR 7

Leila Josefowicz Returns

NOVEMBER 12 OR 14

Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto and Zarathustra

NOVEMBER 19 OR 21

Mozart’s Requiem with Xian

JANUARY 28 OR 30

Xian and Emanuel Ax

FEBRUARY 4 OR 6

Tchaikovsky’s Manfred with Xian

FEBRUARY 11 OR 13

Xian Conducts The Sounds of Spain

FEBRUARY 25 OR 27

Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times

MARCH 11 OR 13

Xian Conducts Scheherazade

MARCH 18 OR 20

Berlioz’s Romeo and Juliet

APRIL 8 OR 10

Grieg’s Peer Gynt with Xian

APRIL 15 OR 17

Beethoven’s Pastoral and Gil Shaham

APRIL 22 OR 24

Pines & Fountains of Rome with Xian

APRIL 29 OR MAY 1

Shostakovich’s 10th Symphony

MAY 13 OR 14

Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto

Saturday subscribers will attend the Friday, May 14 performance at 8pm.

JUNE 3 OR 5

Mahler’s Fourth Symphony

JUNE 17 OR 19

Xian Conducts Brahms

JUNE 24 OR 26

Wagner’s The Ring Without Words

Nature in Music Festival

For hundreds of years, composers have looked to nature for inspiration. For a thrilling new Seattle Symphony season, Music Director Xian Zhang takes inspiration from Seattle’s bounty of stunning vistas and her own fascination with the natural world. Nature-inspired music threads through the 2026/2027 season and comes to a head in April with a three-week Nature in Music Festival, all of its programs conducted by Xian.

The festival opens with a program focused on visions of nature. Vaughan Williams’ serene Lark Ascending attempts to capture the feeling of a bird soaring on the wind. Next comes Xian’s own selections from Grieg’s bucolic Peer Gynt, containing the most famous of all musical sunrises, Morning Mood, while Webern’s Im Sommerwind (In the Summer Wind) reveals the composer at his most exultant and lush.

In the second weekend, our musical tour of the natural world takes us to the Austrian countryside with Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony, a portrait of an idyllic country outing with musical recreations of everything from a babbling brook to birdsong to a frightful thunderstorm.

For the third and final weekend, we land in Rome with Respighi’s exploration of the harmonious relationship between Italy’s “Eternal City” and its natural surroundings. With the enchanting pairing of Respighi’s Pines of Rome and Fountains of Rome, we take a musical journey through the iconic trees that take root in ancient ruins and the famous fountains depicting Roman gods and mythological creatures of the sea.

APRIL 8 & 10

Grieg’s Peer Gynt with Xian

Xian Zhang conductor

Helen Kim violin

Seattle Symphony

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS The Lark Ascending GRIEG Peer Gynt Suite (Xian Zhang’s selections)

WEBERN Im Sommerwind (In the Summer Wind)

SCRIABIN Poem of Ecstasy

Helen Kim’s position is generously underwritten as the Clowes Family Associate Concertmaster.

Featured in PACKAGE 6A & 6B in the Symphonic Series

SEE PAGE 8

APRIL 15, 17 & 18

Beethoven’s Pastoral and Gil Shaham

Xian Zhang conductor

Gil Shaham violin

Seattle Symphony

DVOŘÁK Violin Concerto

BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral”

Featured in PACKAGE 7C, 7D & 10G in the Symphonic Series

SEE PAGES 11 & 16

APRIL 22, 24 & 25

Pines & Fountains of Rome with Xian

Xian Zhang conductor

Gabriela Montero piano

Seattle Symphony

GABRIELA MONTERO Piano Concerto No. 1, “Latin”

RESPIGHI Fountains of Rome

RESPIGHI Pines of Rome

Featured in PACKAGE 6E, 6F & 10G in the Symphonic Series

SEE PAGES 13 & 16

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.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, AT 6PM

Opening Night with Yuja Wang

Xian Zhang conductor

Yuja Wang piano

Seattle Symphony

PROKOFIEV Suite from Lieutenant Kijé

PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 3

Dress to impress at Opening Night! Celebrate the start of the 2026/2027 season with your first look at Benaroya Hall’s boldly reimagined public spaces — with warm and welcoming details throughout, all designed to give you a truly exceptional concert experience.

On stage, Xian and the orchestra will be joined by superstar pianist Yuja Wang for a dazzling showpiece: Sergei Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto. Plus, the orchestra delves into Prokofiev’s symphonic suite version of Lieutenant Kijé, originally written for the film of the same name.

Start your symphony season with this joyful celebration at Benaroya Hall! Add on Opening Night Concert tickets to any subscription and secure the best seats before they go on sale to the general public. And visit seattlesymphony.org/gala to learn more about our full gala celebration.

Visit seattlesymphony.org/subscribe to add Opening Night Concert tickets to your subscription!

CLASSICAL SPECIALS

ADD-ON CONCERTS

VARIOUS DAYS AND TIMES

SUNDAY, JANUARY 24, AT 2PM

Itzhak Perlman in Recital

Itzhak Perlman violin

Rohan De Silva piano

Violin legend Itzhak Perlman returns to Benaroya Hall accompanied by his longtime recital partner, pianist Rohan De Silva. Known for a warm sound, welcoming demeanor and worldwide cultural impact that have made him a household name for six decades and counting, Perlman presents a program of violin showpieces sure to delight, dazzle and inspire.

FRIDAY, MARCH 19, AT 8PM

Hayato Sumino “Cateen” in

Recital

Hayato Sumino “Cateen” piano

CHOPIN Scherzo No. 1

HAYATO SUMINO Recollection

CHOPIN / SUMINO Raindrop Postlude

CHOPIN Piano Sonata No. 2

SAINT-SAËNS Danse Macabre

HAYATO SUMINO Big Cat Waltz

CHOPIN Mazurka Op. 59

ADÈS Mazurka Op. 27, No. 2

CHOPIN Etude Op. 10, No. 5, “Black Keys”

HAYATO SUMINO White Keys

HAYATO SUMINO Imaginary Polonaise

RAVEL / SUMINO Boléro

Hayato Sumino, better known as “Cateen” to his 1.5 million YouTube followers, is nothing short of astonishing. Cateen is redefining the art of piano performance, earning tens of millions of views for his captivating interpretations of classical masterworks. Don’t miss this highly anticipated Seattle debut.

THURSDAY, MAY 20, AT 7:30PM

Anna Lapwood

WITH THE SEATTLE SYMPHONY

Robert Ames conductor

Anna Lapwood organ

Seattle Symphony

MAX RICHTER Cosmology

JONGEN Sinfonia Concertante

Superstar organist Anna Lapwood makes her Seattle Symphony debut performing on our spectacular Watjen Concert Organ. Max Richter’s Cosmology, composed specifically for Lapwood, depicts a dreamy journey through the vastness of space, while Joseph Jongen’s Sinfonia Concertante offers a thrilling tour de force for organ and orchestra. In short, this is not your traditional pipe organ program.

The Seattle Symphony’s organ programming is generously supported by the Fluke | Gabelein Organ Endowment.

IN Recital series

4-CONCERT PACKAGE

VARIOUS DAYS AND TIMES

The world’s most acclaimed musicians bring their favorite recital programs to the unparalleled acoustics of Benaroya Hall, and introduce audiences to new connections and hidden gems in the classical repertoire.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, AT 7:30PM

Paul Lewis Plays Mozart Sonatas

MOZART Sonata in B flat major, K. 570

WEBER Sonata in A flat major, Op. 39

CHOPIN Polonaise in C sharp minor, Op. 26

CHOPIN Two Nocturnes, Op. 32

MOZART Sonata in B flat major, K. 333

Pianist Paul Lewis makes his Benaroya Hall debut, opening the In Recital Series with an insightfully themed solo program. Using Mozart’s piano sonatas as inspiration, Lewis shines a spotlight on works by Chopin and Weber and reveals how these musical threads all trace back to Mozart.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, AT 7:30PM Víkingur Ólafsson Plays Debussy & Rameau

PHILIP GLASS Opening

DEBUSSY Ondine

PHILIP GLASS Etude No. 15

RAMEAU Selections from Suite No. 3 in D major

DEBUSSY Serenade for the Doll

RAMEAU Selections from Suite No. 2 in E minor

DEBUSSY Jardin Sous La Pluie (Gardens in the Rain)

PHILIP GLASS Etude No. 3

DEBUSSY The Snow Is Dancing

RAMEAU Selections from Suite No. 5 in A minor

We are thrilled to welcome back pianist Víkingur Ólafsson for a recital program of enchanting works by Debussy and Rameau. Contemporary works by American composer Philip Glass punctuate the dreamy French repertoire.

Note: this program runs without intermission.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, AT 7:30PM Yeol Eum Son Plays Rachmaninov & Bach

BEETHOVEN Six Variations in F Major, Op. 34

CZERNY Variations on a Theme by Rode, Op. 33, “La ricordanza”

LISZT “Ricordanza” from Transcendental Etudes

RACHMANINOV (arr. Siloti) Vocalise

RACHMANINOV Prelude, Op. 32, No. 13

J.S. BACH (arr. Rachmaninov) Gavotte from Partita for Solo Violin No. 3

J.S. BACH (arr. Hess) Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring DE LARROCHA Sonata Antigua, Cajita de música

LANDOWSKA Feu Follet

LANDOWSKA Valse in E Minor

NIKOLAYEVA Elegy

GIESEKING Three Dance Improvisations

WILD Reminiscences of Snow White

The spotlight turns to another brilliant pianist, Yeol Eum Son, for the third program of the In Recital Series. Yeol Eum Son curates a concert of solo piano works written by and for great piano virtuosos, putting her own stamp on this deliciously technical repertoire.

SATURDAY, MAY 15, AT 8PM Alisa Weilerstein and Inon Barnatan

Play Chopin & Shostakovich

FALLA Suite Populaire Espagnole

CHOPIN Sonata in G minor, Op. 65

SHOSTAKOVICH/LERA AUERBACH

24 Preludes: Arrangement for violoncello and piano after Op. 34

RACHMANINOV Sonata in G minor, Op. 19

BRAHMS Cello Sonatas

For the In Recital Series finale, cellist Alisa Weilerstein and pianist Inon Barnatan celebrate 20 years of performing together with a program that represents their initial collaborations as a duo. Among the selections are Chopin’s only sonata with cello and Rachmaninov’s demanding take on the cello-piano sonata.

seattle POPs series

4-CONCERT PACKAGE

FRIDAYS OR SATURDAYS AT 8PM | SUNDAY MATINEES AT 2PM

SEATTLE POPS SERIES

Symphonic music meets pop culture with a journey through some of the most beloved film and TV music ever written.

OCTOBER 2, 3 OR 4

Ennio Morricone:

The Official Symphonic Experience

Thiago Tiberio conductor

Seattle Symphony

Immerse yourself in the world of legendary Oscar-winning composer Ennio Morricone, with musical selections from Morricone’s most celebrated film scores — Cinema Paradiso, The Mission, The Hateful Eight, Once Upon a Time in the West and more. This program blends live symphonic performance with curated film clips and exclusive interviews with actors and directors, plus exclusive footage with Morricone himself.

Presented by Schirmer Theatrical in collaboration with Musica e Oltre The Official Ennio Morricone Legacy Company and Wise Music Group, representing the worldwide hire catalogue of Morricone.

Note: this program runs without intermission.

DECEMBER

4, 5 OR 6

Holiday Pops with Megan Hilty

Enrico Lopez-Yañez conductor

Megan Hilty vocals

Seattle Symphony

Celebrate the merriest season with Broadway and TV star Megan Hilty as she joins her hometown orchestra for a joyful program of holiday classics and spirited carols.

Seattle Symphony

FEBRUARY

19, 20 OR 21

Symphonically Spielberg: The Music of John Williams

Steven Reineke conductor

Seattle Symphony

Celebrate the legendary collaboration between composer John Williams and filmmaker Steven Spielberg as the Seattle Symphony brings to life some of the most iconic music from 50 years of Spielberg-Williams collaborations. Embark on unforgettable adventures from Jurassic Park to Jaws, Indiana Jones to Hook, Close Encounters of the Third Kind to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial through the music that has left an indelible mark on our collective cinematic memories.

JUNE 11, 12 OR 13

Bear McCreary Conducts Bear McCreary

Bear McCreary conductor

Seattle Symphony

Step into the singular universe of Emmy-winning and Grammy-nominated composer Bear McCreary as the Seattle Symphony brings his iconic soundscapes from hit TV series, films and video games to life in the concert hall. This show is definitely one for the fans! McCreary has created numerous beloved scores for projects including Battlestar Galactica, Outlander, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Walking Dead, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and God of War. McCreary himself, returning to his Pacific Northwest roots, joins the orchestra to conduct, perform and curate this symphonic tour through some of his most unforgettable music.

SUBSCRIBE BY APRIL 4, 2026 TO GET THE BEST SEATS!

Open Captions are provided at all Saturday performances in the Seattle Pops Series. Please contact the Ticket Office at tickets@seattlesymphony.org or call 206.215.4747 for appropriate seating locations.

OCTAVE 9 series

6-CONCERT PACKAGE

FRIDAYS AT 7PM (SERIES A) OR FRIDAYS AT 9PM

Immerse yourself in the state-of-the-art sound worlds and innovative performances of Octave 9: Raisbeck Music Center.

OCTOBER

16

Etudes and Devotions

Conor Hanick piano

Mari Yoshinaga percussion

Helen Kim violin

Emerson Millar violin

Katie Liu viola

Meeka Quan DiLorenzo cello

SAMUEL ADAMS Etudes for Piano

SAMUEL ADAMS Devotions for String Quartet and Percussion (Seattle Symphony Cocommission and U.S. Premiere)

Seattle-based composer Samuel Adams boasts an international profile, commissioned by the LA Philharmonic and many others. This Octave 9 Series program features some of Adams’ recent collaborations: pianist Conor Hanick performs his Etudes, and percussionist Mari Yoshinaga joins a Seattle Symphony quartet for the U.S. premiere of Devotions, integrating electronics with percussion and strings.

Helen Kim’s position is generously underwritten as the Clowes Family Associate Concertmaster.

OCTAVE 9: RAISBECK MUSIC CENTER

(SERIES B)

NOVEMBER

6

The World of György Kurtág

Will Langlie Miletich bass

Lucy Fitz Gibbon soprano

Ryan MacEvoy McCullough piano

Lembit Beecher animation

Seattle Symphony musicians

GYÖRGY KURTÁG Hommage á R. Schumann

LEMBIT BEECHER With Grandchildren (World Premiere)

GYÖRGY KURTÁG Hommage á John Cage

JOHN CAGE The Wonderful Widow of Eighteen Springs

AMY BETH KIRSTEN yes I said yes I will yes

GYÖRGY KURTÁG Einige Sätze aus den Sudelbüchern Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (Fragments from the Scrapbooks of Georg Christoph Lichtenberg), Op. 37a

Celebrate the centennial of renowned Hungarian composer György Kurtág with this kaleidoscopic program of music and film.

Kurtág’s setting of naturalist Georg Christoph Lichtenberg’s aphorisms weaves together 22 unique musical worlds exploring themes of nature, religion and colonialism, all brought to life with the world premiere of an accompanying animated film by composer and animator

Lembit Beecher. Additional works trace Kurtág’s influences and impact.

Performances of this program will start at 6:30pm (SERIES A) and 8:30pm (SERIES B).

MARCH

5

Inheritances

Adam Tendler piano

LAURIE ANDERSON Remember, I Created You MISSY MAZZOLI Forgiveness Machine

SCOTT WOLLSCHLEGER Outsider Song

ANGÉLICA NEGRÓN You Were My Age

JOHN GLOVER In the City of Shy Hunters

MARY PRESCOTT What It Becomes

TIMO ANDRES An Open Book

TED HEARNE Inheritance

INTI FIGGIS-VIZUETA hushing

SARAH KIRKLAND SNIDER The plum tree I planted still there

CHRISTOPHER CERRONE Area of Refuge

PAMELA Z Thank You So Much

DARIAN DONOVAN THOMAS We don’t need to tend this garden. They’re wildflowers.

NICO MUHLY Eiris, Sones

DEVONTÉ HYNES Morning Piece

After his father’s unexpected death, pianist Adam Tendler used his inheritance — an envelope full of cash received in a parking lot — to commission new piano works from some of today’s most recognized composers that explore the theme of ‘inheritance’ itself. Woven into one program, these “little masterpieces” (The New York Times) tell a universal story of lineage and loss, and the complexities of confronting the past while facing the future.

APRIL 2

The Elwha River

Claire Chase flutes & co-creator

Annea Lockwood co-creator

The Elwha River co-creator

Caley Monahon-Ward audio engineer

ANNEA LOCKWOOD / CLAIRE CHASE / THE ELWHA RIVER Elwha! For 7 Flutes and 7.1 Sound (Seattle Symphony Co-commission)

The Olympic Peninsula’s Elwha River is the ancestral home of the Lower Elwha Klallam people and of five species of salmon, all dispossessed in 1910 with the construction of two dams. Both dams were removed in the 2010s, leading to astounding environmental recovery and a sense of hope in our region and beyond. Composer Annea Lockwood and flutist Claire Chase immersed themselves in the Elwha River habitat and history to create a portrait of a resilient ecosystem and people.

MAY 7

Pamela Z

Pamela Z voice & electronics

Pamela Z is a composer/performer and media artist working with voice, live electronics, sampled sound and video. A pioneer of live looping, her performances combine experimental extended vocal techniques, operatic bel canto, found objects, digital processing and custom-designed instruments that allow her to manipulate sound with physical gestures. For the Octave 9 Series, Pamela Z will present a specially curated program to be announced from the stage.

JUNE 18

The Brandee Younger Trio

Brandee Younger harp

Rashaan Carter bass, sound & visual design

Allan Mednard drums

BRANDEE YOUNGER Selections from Gadabout Season

Harpist and composer Brandee Younger continues to revolutionize the harp’s place in modern music, uniting spiritual jazz and classical grounding with the soulful pulse of R&B and hip hop. The first Black woman ever nominated for a GRAMMY for Best Instrumental Composition, she expands her sonic world with electronic textures, extended techniques and an Afrofuturist palette. This program features new experimental video and still imagery by bassist and collaborator Rashaan Carter.

Chamber series

ILLSLEY BALL NORDSTROM RECITAL HALL

4-CONCERT PACKAGE

TUESDAYS AT 7:30PM

On the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s passing, our own Seattle Symphony musicians curate and perform four programs centered around his beloved chamber music.

FEBRUARY 9

Beethoven’s Cello Sonatas

Seattle Symphony musicians

BEETHOVEN Complete Cello Sonatas

Seattle Symphony cellists explore one of Beethoven’s greatest chamber legacies, performing all five of his cello sonatas in one evening.

MARCH 9

Beethoven & Tower

Seattle Symphony musicians

BEETHOVEN Duet “with two Obligato Eyeglasses”

BEETHOVEN Serenade in D Major (String Trio No. 2, Op. 8)

JOAN TOWER Island Prelude

BEETHOVEN String Trio, Op. 9, No. 1

Two Beethoven trios form the anchors for this program, joined by Joan Tower’s evocation of a bird soaring over a tropical island. Beethoven’s charming “eyeglasses” duet opens the evening.

APRIL 13

Beethoven & Alberga

Seattle Symphony musicians

BEETHOVEN Piano Quintet, Op. 16

ELEANOR ALBERGA Shining Gate of Morpheus

BEETHOVEN String Quartet Op. 59, No. 1, “Razumovsky No. 1”

The young Beethoven stretches his wings in this early quintet for piano and wind instruments. His art for string quartet takes flight with the joyous first Razumovsky Quartet. Alongside Beethoven’s early work, we explore a work by Eleanor Alberga, pondering in music the world of sleep and dreams.

MAY 11

Beethoven & Beach

Seattle Symphony musicians

BEETHOVEN String Quartet No. 1, Op. 18, No. 1 BEACH Theme and Variations for Flute and String Quartet

BEETHOVEN String Quartet No. 16, Op. 135

Beethoven’s first and final string quartets encompass one of the great arcs of western music. Between them, we enjoy a romantic American work — Amy Beach’s Theme and Variations.

tiny toTS series

5-CONCERT PACKAGE

ILLSLEY BALL NORDSTROM RECITAL HALL

FRIDAY MATINEES AT 10:30AM | SATURDAY MATINEES AT 9:30, 10:30 OR 11:30AM

FEBRUARY 5 & 6

Learn about all the instruments of the orchestra in these bite-sized concerts designed for ages 0–5.

OCTOBER 2 & 3

The Percussion: Sounds from Home

Seattle Symphony musicians

Centered around everyday objects you can find at home, explore new and exciting ways to experience rhythm with our friends in the percussion section!

DECEMBER 11 & 12

The Strings: Holiday String-Along

Seattle Symphony musicians

Make memories together as the string family creates a magical winter wonderland through classic sing-a-longs and your favorite holiday music.

The Brass: Movie Magic

Seattle Symphony musicians

Listen to some of your movie music favorites! Adventure through different genres and learn about the magic of film along the way.

APRIL 16 & 17

The Winds: Campfire Jams

Seattle Symphony musicians

Get ready for a musical camping adventure! The wind family lights up the stage with campfire sing-a-longs and silly stories for the whole family.

JUNE 4 & 5

Tiny Orchestra: M is for Music

Seattle Symphony musicians

Journey through the musical alphabet with the winds, strings, percussion and brass to listen to how all the orchestra families play together!

RUN TIME: 30 minutes

AGE RECOMMENDATION: The Tiny Tots Series is designed for ages 0–5. Children of all ages are welcome at Tiny Tots performances. All ages need a concert ticket, including babies in arms.

FREE PRE-CONCERT ACTIVITIES: All Tiny Tots performances include FREE pre-concert activities 30 minutes before the performance. Join us for instrument discovery, reading station, crafts and percussion play area in the Samuel & Althea Stroum Grand Lobby.

NEURO-INCLUSIVE OPTIONS: Visit the checkout station to borrow fidgets, wobble cushions and noise-reducing headphones for all ages. A quiet entrance will also be available at all Tiny Tots performances.

The Arakawa Foundation proudly supports the Seattle Symphony’s Youth Education Partnerships. Additional support is provided by Delta Air Lines.

FAMILY CONCERTS series

4-CONCERT PACKAGE

SATURDAY MATINEES AT 11AM

FEBRUARY 20

Spark your imagination with musical storytelling! These interactive, no-intermission concerts are designed for ages 6–12.

OCTOBER 31

Halloween Spooktacular!

Joseph Adam organ

Seattle Symphony

Trick or treat over to the symphony for a frightfully fun musical adventure! Enjoy a concert filled with musical treats, from fa-boo-lous new works to spooky old classics. Costumes encouraged!

DECEMBER

5

The Snowman

Seattle Symphony

Celebrate the holidays with our beloved family tradition — the classic children’s film The Snowman. A young boy builds a snowman that comes to life and takes him on an adventure to the North Pole.

Sunny with a Chance of Symphony

Seattle Symphony

This just in — nature is taking over Benaroya Hall! From rumbling thunderstorms to sunny melodies, today’s musical forecast calls for adventure.

MAY 8

The Firebird

Seattle Symphony

Explore how the orchestra uses music to bring stories to life! Follow Prince Ivan as he encounters the firebird, an evil sorcerer and a princess through this exciting story of courage and humanity. Featuring music from Stravinsky’s legendary Firebird Suite.

RUN TIME: 50 minutes

AGE RECOMMENDATION: The Family Concerts Series is designed for ages 6–12. Children of all ages are welcome at Family Concerts performances. All ages need a concert ticket, including babies in arms.

FREE PRE-CONCERT ACTIVITIES: All Family Concerts performances include FREE pre-concert activities 60 minutes before the performance. Join us for crafts and instrument discovery in the Samuel & Althea Stroum Grand Lobby.

NEURO-INCLUSIVE OPTIONS: Visit the checkout station to borrow fidgets, wobble cushions and noise-reducing headphones for all ages.

The Arakawa Foundation proudly supports the Seattle Symphony’s Youth Education Partnerships. Additional support is provided by Delta Air Lines.

Open Captions are provided at all Family Concerts Series performances. Please contact the Ticket Office at tickets@seattlesymphony.org or call 206.215.4747 for appropriate seating locations.

HOLIDAY SPECIALS

ADD-ON CONCERTS

VARIOUS DAYS AND TIMES

Celebrate the wintry holiday season with the welcoming sounds of music at Benaroya Hall. Add these concerts to your subscription today!

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, AT 7:30PM SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, AT 2 & 8PM

Elf in Concert

WITH THE SEATTLE SYMPHONY

Seattle Symphony

Buddy the elf travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father. Now experience this holiday adventure with a live symphony orchestra: Elf in Concert!

ELF and all related characters and elements © & ™ New Line Productions, Inc.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, AT 7:30PM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, AT 8PM

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, AT 2PM

Handel’s Messiah

Jean-Sébastien Vallée conductor

Sarah Dufresne soprano

Nicholas Burns alto

James Ley tenor

Enrico Lagasca bass

Seattle Symphony Chorale

Seattle Symphony

HANDEL Messiah

Handel’s Messiah is a matchless December tradition. The exquisite choral writing and the wildly famous “Hallelujah” chorus — featuring the Seattle Symphony Chorale, the Watjen Concert Organ and a dream cast of vocal soloists alongside the orchestra — honor Handel’s greatest work.

Handel’s Messiah is generously sponsored by Stephen Whyte in memory of Gwendolyn Jones Whyte.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, AT 7:30PM A Festival

of Lessons & Carols

Jacob Winkler conductor Northwest Boychoir Vocalpoint! Seattle Northwest Sinfonia

The remarkably talented and endearing Northwest Boychoir returns to Benaroya Hall for a beloved tradition of lessons and carols. In this program, they present the story of the Nativity through readings, choral settings and audience carols.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, AT 9PM

New Year’s Eve with Storm Large and Jimmie Herrod

Storm Large vocals

Jimmie Herrod vocals

Seattle Symphony

Head to Benaroya Hall for a special New Year’s Eve celebration with the Seattle Symphony! The inimitable songstress Storm Large and America’s Got Talent star Jimmie Herrod, both frequent Pink Martini collaborators, join the orchestra for a sensational show. The party continues with dancing, champagne and revelry in the Samuel & Althea Stroum Grand Lobby as we count down to midnight in style.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, AT 7:30PM

SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, AT 8PM

Hook in Concert

WITH THE SEATTLE SYMPHONY

Seattle Symphony

Steven Spielberg’s beloved epic Hook celebrates its 35th anniversary with a spectacular film-to-concert presentation. Released in 1991, Hook became a global box office success and earned five Academy Award nominations. Starring Robin Williams as an adult Peter Pan, Hook follows Peter’s daring return to rescue his children from Captain Hook. The Seattle Symphony brings John Williams’ iconic score to life, performed in sync with the full movie on the big screen, delivering an unforgettable experience for audiences of all ages.

SUBSCRIBERS

HELP KEEP THE MUSIC PLAYING!

Since joining as Music Director Xian Zhang has infused the Seattle Symphony with new energy and excitement. The future is bright and you play a vital part in the music.

The Seattle Symphony is a nonprofit arts organization, so we rely on generous people like you to help share the joy of music. Ticket sales cover less than half the cost of bringing each extraordinary performance to life. Please include a gift with your subscription order today!

When you make a gift, you’ll help bring our music to life. You’ll also enjoy unique donor benefits throughout the 2026/2027 season. Special perks and experiences begin with your gift of $120 (or just $10/month). Visit us online at seattlesymphony.org/friends to explore all the benefits we offer.

ENHANCE YOUR SYMPHONY EXPERIENCE!

OPEN REHEARSALS

When you join us as a Friend of the Symphony ($120+), you’ll be invited to go behind the scenes with the orchestra as they prepare for an upcoming concert. During the 2026/2027 season, you’ll have the opportunity to see Xian and an exciting roster of guest conductors in rehearsal with the orchestra.

FOUNDERS ROOM

Savor your intermission with complimentary wine, tea and coffee in the elegantly appointed Norcliffe Founders Room. Symphony Club members ($1,200+) receive complimentary passes to enjoy the Founders Room while our Founders Circle supporters ($5,000+) have unlimited access.

Learn more about supporting the music you love! Our Donor Relations team is here to talk you through your donor experience every step of the way. Contact us today at friends@seattlesymphony.org or 206.215.4832 Our most popular benefit!

VIP TICKETING

Founders Circle members ($5,000+) enjoy unparalleled service for all your ticketing needs. VIP Ticketing is here to help create your perfect Benaroya Hall experience, with access to exclusive seating options, personalized concierge service and FREE ticket exchanges.

PLEASE JOIN US WITH YOUR GIFT TODAY!

Since my first visit in 2008, the musicians of the Seattle Symphony have always impressed me with their skill, sensitivity and artistry. But what stuck with me even more was the spirit of this city: curious, collaborative — and welcoming.

As we look ahead to the 2026/2027 season, our upcoming programs are vibrant and bold. I’m excited to share fresh perspectives and new commissions. I want our stages to be a place where listeners feel at home, where young people discover the thrill of a live orchestra, and where dedicated supporters like you feel proud of the future you’re helping to build.

2026/2027 SEASON

SEPTEMBER

SEPTEMBER 19

Opening Night with Yuja Wang

Xian Zhang conductor

Yuja Wang piano

Seattle Symphony

SEPTEMBER 24, 26 & 27

Xian and James Ehnes

Xian Zhang conductor

James Ehnes violin

Seattle Symphony

BRUCH Violin Concerto No. 1

BERLIOZ Symphonie fantastique

OCTOBER

OCTOBER 2 & 3

The Percussion: Sounds from Home

Seattle Symphony musicians

OCTOBER 2, 3 & 4

Ennio Morricone: The Official Symphonic Experience

Thiago Tiberio conductor

Seattle Symphony

OCTOBER 16

Etudes and Devotions

Conor Hanick piano

Mari Yoshinaga percussion

Helen Kim violin

Emerson Millar violin

Katie Liu viola

Meeka Quan DiLorenzo cello

OCTOBER 22 & 24

Morlot Conducts

The Sounds of Spring

Ludovic Morlot conductor

Conor Hanick piano

Seattle Symphony

BRIDGE Enter Spring

SAMUEL ADAMS No Such Spring

R. SCHUMANN Symphony No. 1, “Spring”

OCTOBER 27

Paul Lewis Plays Mozart

Sonatas

Paul Lewis piano

OCTOBER 31

Halloween Spooktacular!

Joseph Adam organ

Seattle Symphony

NOVEMBER

NOVEMBER 5 & 7

Leila Josefowicz Returns

Jonathan Stockhammer conductor

Leila Josefowicz violin

Seattle Symphony

UNSUK CHIN Rocaná (Room of Light)

SZYMANOWSKI Violin Concerto No. 2

STRAVINSKY Petrushka (1947)

NOVEMBER 6

The World of György Kurtág

Will Langlie Miletich bass

Lucy Fitz Gibbon soprano

Ryan MacEvoy McCullough piano

Lembit Beecher animation

Seattle Symphony musicians

NOVEMBER 12, 14 & 15

Tchaikovsky’s First Piano

Concerto and Zarathustra

Xian Zhang conductor

Tony Siqi Yun piano

Seattle Symphony

TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 1

R. STRAUSS Also sprach Zarathustra

NOVEMBER 19, 21 & 22

Mozart’s Requiem with Xian

Xian Zhang conductor

Eric Schweikert timpani

Mei Gui Zhang soprano

Sarah Larsen mezzo-soprano

Eric Ferring tenor

Dashon Burton bass

Seattle Symphony Chorale

Seattle Symphony

JOE PEREIRA Timpani Concerto (Seattle

Symphony Co-Commission and World Premiere)

MOZART Requiem

DECEMBER

DECEMBER 4, 5 & 6

Holiday Pops with Megan Hilty

Enrico Lopez-Yañez conductor

Megan Hilty vocals

Seattle Symphony

DECEMBER 5

The Snowman

Seattle Symphony

DECEMBER 9 & 12

Elf in Concert

WITH THE SEATTLE SYMPHONY

Seattle Symphony

DECEMBER 11 & 12

The Strings: Holiday String-Along

Seattle Symphony musicians

DECEMBER 17, 19 & 20

Handel’s Messiah

Jean-Sébastien Vallée conductor

Sarah Dufresne soprano

Nicholas Burns alto

James Ley tenor

Enrico Lagasca bass

Seattle Symphony Chorale

Seattle Symphony

HANDEL Messiah

AT A GLANCE

DECEMBER 21

A Festival of Lessons & Carols

Jacob Winkler conductor

Northwest Boychoir

Vocalpoint! Seattle

Northwest Sinfonia

DECEMBER 31

New Year’s Eve with Storm Large and Jimmie Herrod

Storm Large vocals

Jimmie Herrod vocals

Seattle Symphony

JANUARY

JANUARY 7 & 9

Hook in Concert WITH THE SEATTLE SYMPHONY

Seattle Symphony

JANUARY 24

Itzhak Perlman in Recital

Itzhak Perlman violin

Rohan De Silva piano

JANUARY 28 & 30

Xian and Emanuel Ax

Xian Zhang conductor

Emanuel Ax piano

Seattle Symphony

HAYDN Symphony No. 82, “The Bear” MOZART Piano Concerto No. 25, K.503

MOZART Eine kleine Nachtmusik (A Little Night Music)

HAYDN Symphony No. 87

FEBRUARY

FEBRUARY 4, 6 & 7

Tchaikovsky’s Manfred with Xian

Xian Zhang conductor

Steven Banks saxophone

Seattle Symphony

IBERT Concertino da camera

STEVEN BANKS Come As You Are TCHAIKOVSKY Manfred Symphony

FEBRUARY 5 & 6

The Brass: Movie Magic

Seattle Symphony musicians

FEBRUARY 9

Beethoven’s Cello Sonatas

Seattle Symphony musicians

FEBRUARY 11 & 13

Xian Conducts

The Sounds of Spain

Xian Zhang conductor

Noah Geller violin

Seattle Symphony

LALO Symphonie espagnole

GINASTERA Four Dances from Estancia

RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Capriccio espagnol

FEBRUARY 19, 20 & 21

Symphonically Spielberg: The Music of John Williams

Steven Reineke conductor

Seattle Symphony

FEBRUARY 20

Sunny with a Chance of Symphony

Seattle Symphony

FEBRUARY 23

Víkingur Ólafsson Plays Debussy & Rameau

Víkingur Ólafsson piano

FEBRUARY 25, 27 & 28

Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times

Timothy Brock conductor

Seattle Symphony

CHAPLIN Modern Times

MARCH

MARCH 5

Inheritances

Adam Tendler piano

MARCH 9

Beethoven & Tower

Seattle Symphony musicians

MARCH 11 & 13

Xian Conducts Scheherazade

Xian Zhang conductor

Seattle Symphony

SMETANA The Moldau

STEVEN MACKEY Concerto for Orchestra (Seattle Symphony Co-Commission and World Premiere)

RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Scheherazade

MARCH 18, 20 & 21

Berlioz’s Romeo and Juliet

Hugh Wolff conductor

J’Nai Bridges mezzo-soprano

Seattle Symphony Chorale

Seattle Symphony

BERLIOZ Roméo et Juliette, Op. 17

MARCH 19

Hayato Sumino “Cateen” in Recital

Hayato Sumino “Cateen” piano

MARCH 31

Yeol Eum Son Plays Rachmaninov & Bach

Yeol Eum Son piano

APRIL

APRIL 2

The Elwha River

Claire Chase flutes & co-creator

Annea Lockwood co-creator

The Elwha River co-creator

Caley Monahon-Ward audio engineer

APRIL 8 & 10

Grieg’s Peer Gynt with Xian

NATURE IN MUSIC FESTIVAL

Xian Zhang conductor

Helen Kim violin

Seattle Symphony

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS The Lark Ascending

GRIEG Peer Gynt Suite (Xian Zhang’s selections)

WEBERN Im Sommerwind (In the Summer Wind)

SCRIABIN Poem of Ecstasy

APRIL 13

Beethoven & Alberga

Seattle Symphony musicians

APRIL 15, 17 & 18

Beethoven’s Pastoral and Gil Shaham

NATURE IN MUSIC FESTIVAL

Xian Zhang conductor Gil Shaham violin

Seattle Symphony

DVOŘÁK Violin Concerto

BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral”

APRIL 16 & 17

The Winds: Campfire Jams

Seattle Symphony musicians

APRIL 22, 24 & 25

Pines & Fountains of Rome with Xian

NATURE IN MUSIC FESTIVAL

Xian Zhang conductor

Gabriela Montero piano

Seattle Symphony

GABRIELA MONTERO Piano Concerto No. 1, “Latin”

RESPIGHI Fountains of Rome

RESPIGHI Pines of Rome

APRIL 29 & MAY 1

Shostakovich’s 10th Symphony

David Afkham conductor

Steven Osborne piano

Seattle Symphony

SAARIAHO Lumière et Pésanteur (Light and Gravity)

LUTOSŁAWSKI Piano Concerto

SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 10

MAY

MAY 7

Pamela Z

Pamela Z voice & electronics

MAY 8

The Firebird

Seattle Symphony

SUBSCRIPTION SERIES

SYMPHONIC SERIES

IN RECITAL SERIES

SEATTLE POPS SERIES

MAY 11

Beethoven & Beach

Seattle Symphony musicians

MAY 13 & 14

OCTAVE 9 SERIES

CHAMBER SERIES

TINY TOTS SERIES

FAMILY CONCERTS SERIES ADD-ON CONCERTS

CLASSICAL SPECIALS

HOLIDAY SPECIALS

Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto

Alexander Shelley conductor

Benjamin Grosvenor piano

Seattle Symphony

IAN CUSSON IQ84: Sinfonietta Metamoderna

RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto No. 2

SIBELIUS Symphony No. 2

MAY 15

Alisa Weilerstein and Inon Barnatan Play Chopin & Shostakovich

Alisa Weilerstein cello

Inon Barnatan piano

MAY 20

Anna Lapwood

WITH THE SEATTLE SYMPHONY

Robert Ames conductor

Anna Lapwood organ

Seattle Symphony

JUNE

JUNE 3, 5 & 6

Mahler’s Fourth Symphony

Nicholas Carter conductor

Patricia Westley soprano

Seattle Symphony

R. STRAUSS Träumerei am Kamin (Dreaming by the Fireside) from Intermezzo

DEBUSSY (arr: Brett Dean) Ariettes Oubliées (Forgotten Songs)

MAHLER Symphony No. 4

JUNE 4 & 5

Tiny Orchestra: M is for Music

Seattle Symphony musicians

JUNE 11, 12 & 13

Bear McCreary Conducts

Bear McCreary

Bear McCreary conductor

Seattle Symphony

JUNE 17, 19 & 20

Xian Conducts Brahms

Xian Zhang conductor

Daniel Lozakovich violin

Seattle Symphony

BRAHMS Symphony No. 3

BRAHMS Violin Concerto

JUNE 18

The Brandee Younger Trio

Brandee Younger harp

Rashaan Carter bass, sound & visual design

Allan Mednard drums

JUNE 24 & 26

Wagner’s The Ring Without Words

Xian Zhang conductor

George Li piano

Seattle Symphony

LISZT Piano Concerto No. 2

WAGNER (Arr. Maazel) The Ring Without Words

curated Subscriptions

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Seating information

Partial View: A limited portion of the stage may not be visible. Indicates wheelchair-accessible seating.

S. MARK TAPER FOUNDATION AUDITORIUM

Reserved seating for Symphonic Series, In Recital Series, Seattle Pops Series, Family Concerts Series, Classical Specials & Holiday Specials

PHOTO CREDITS:

James Holt: front cover, pp. 8, 15, 32, 37

Jessica Stein: pp 2, 8, 17, 21

Brandon Patoc: pp. 4, 8, 22, 23, 26

Carlin Ma: pp. 4, 18–19, 31, 32, 33, 36

Ben VanHouten: pp. 6–7, 11

The S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium is the main auditorium for most Seattle Symphony performances and has a capacity of up to 2,500 seats.

The Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall is the auditorium for select Seattle Symphony performances and has a capacity of up to 540 seats.

Octave 9: Raisbeck Music Center is the auditorium for select Seattle Symphony performances and has a variable capacity of up to 75 seats.

Jonathan Pendleton: pp. 15, 35

Karya Schanilec: p. 21

Christina Leonidas: p. 33

Everything Time Studio: pp. 4, 36

Ticket prices include a $7 facility fee per ticket for the preservation of Benaroya Hall. Facility fees are scaled to $5 per ticket for Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall performances, and $4 per ticket for Tiny Tots, Family Concerts and Octave 9 performances. A single $20 handling fee will be applied to your subscription order; individual handling fees do not apply to subscription orders.

All prices are in U.S. dollars. All orders and seating subject to availability. Flexible payment plans are available — contact the Ticket Office for more information. All payments are processed upon receipt of order; this is not a guarantee of

ILLSLEY BALL NORDSTROM RECITAL HALL

Reserved seating for Chamber Series

General admission seating for Tiny Tots Series. Indicates wheelchair-accessible seating.

OCTAVE 9: RAISBECK MUSIC CENTER

General admission seating for Octave 9 Series.

seating, but of your placement in the queue for the seats you’ve requested. You will be contacted by phone with any seating questions. No refunds will be made after your series has begun. Children 5 years of age and older are welcome at all performances with a purchased ticket.

The Seattle Symphony is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tax ID# 91-0667412. The Symphony is registered with Washington State’s Charities Program as required by law. Additional information is available by calling 800.332.4483 or visiting www.sos.wa.gov/charities.

four easy Ways to Subscribe

ONLINE

seattlesymphony.org/subscribe

BY PHONE

206.215.4747 or 1.866.933.4747 (toll-free)

IN PERSON

Ticket Office or Ticket Concierge station at Benaroya Hall

TICKET OFFICE

Located at the corner of Third Avenue & Union Street, inside Benaroya Hall. Open Wednesday–Friday, 3–6pm.

TICKET CONCIERGE

Located in the Samuel & Althea Stroum Grand Lobby, inside Benaroya Hall. Open during Seattle Symphony performances in the S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium.

BY MAIL

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Seattle, WA 98111-2108

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GET THE BEST DEAL

Add-on Youth Subscriptions are just $25 per concert (ex. $100 for a 4-concert package) for ages 8–18, available with the purchase of any standard subscription order.

Add-on Youth Subscriptions are available for the Symphonic Series, In Recital Series, Seattle Pops Series, Octave 9 Series and Chamber Series. All seating zones eligible except Founders Tier / Founders Tier Box.

ADD ON A YOUTH SUBSCRIPTION!

Contact the Ticket Office at tickets@seattlesymphony.org or 206.215.4747 to add a youth subscription to your order.

PLANNING FOR A GROUP?

SUBSCRIBE WITH YOUR FRIENDS! Contact Group Sales at groupsales@ seattlesymphony.org or 206.215.4747 to subscribe as a group.

JOIN A COMMUNITY OF MUSIC FANS!

You are part of an amazing community of people who are passionate about music and the performing arts, and you value the civic gathering space that Benaroya Hall provides in the heart of downtown Seattle for the Seattle Symphony and a host of other organizations.

In fall 2026 — just in time for the start of the 2026/2027 season — Benaroya Hall will fully reopen with reimagined public spaces that will enhance your delight at every turn. From the new, inviting cafe with more seating that will go into The Boeing Company Gallery, to the new Overlook Lounge off the Samuel & Althea Stroum Grand Lobby, we are creating fresh new elements to your Seattle Symphony subscription experience. We can’t wait to share the new Benaroya Hall with you!

With our curated series subscriptions, you lock in the lowest prices and secure your choice of seats before single tickets go on sale to the public. As a subscriber, you will also have season-long access to exclusive presales for sure-to-sell-out concerts as they are announced. Plus, you save on handling fees over single tickets! Subscription orders include a $20 handling fee that covers your entire concert package, including any add-on concerts.

Now is the time to secure your seats, invite your friends and family, and get ready for the next bold chapter of your concert-going experience at Benaroya Hall. Thank you for being an important part of our Seattle Symphony family.

SEPTEMBER 19

Opening Night with Yuja Wang

SEPTEMBER 24, 26 & 27

Xian and James Ehnes

OCTOBER 22 & 24

Morlot Conducts

The Sounds of Spring

NOVEMBER 12, 14 & 15

Tchaikovsky’s First Piano

Concerto and Zarathustra

NOVEMBER 19, 21 & 22

Mozart’s Requiem with Xian

DECEMBER 31

New Year’s Eve with Storm Large and Jimmie Herrod

JANUARY 24

Itzhak Perlman in Recital

MARCH 19

Pianist Hayato Sumino “Cateen” in Recital

APRIL 15, 17 & 18

Beethoven’s Pastoral and Gil Shaham

APRIL 22, 24 & 25

Pines & Fountains of Rome with Xian

MAY 20

Anna Lapwood with the Seattle Symphony

JUNE 11, 12 & 13 Bear McCreary Conducts Bear McCreary