The Minnesota Orchestra released details for the 2025-26 season this week. It is Music Director Thomas Søndergård’s third season, and among many star-studded moments planned throughout the schedule are performances by cellist Yo-Yo Ma and violinist Leila Josefowicz.
“It’s a season full of amazing vocalists, soloists and orchestral works, and we are delving into the concept of what it means to be American-made,” Søndergård says in a press release. “Audiences will hear works by American-born composers, for certain, but also by composers who resettled in America or sought inspiration here. We’re also exploring works that were premiered or commissioned in the U.S. and were inspired by American history, literature and art. By painting with a very broad brush, we hope to bring to light the interwoven tapestry of American influences, artists and composers who have contributed to orchestral music today.”
The Orchestra’s 123rd concert season begins with a family-friendly Orchestra Hall Open House with backstage tours and live performances on Saturday, Sept. 13.
For access to tickets right away, check out the Minnesota Orchestra’s ticket packages, and single tickets go on sale July 29. For those unable to attend in person, viewing options to be announced at a later date include This Is Minnesota Orchestra on PBS TPT-2 and online, and YouTube. Minnesota Orchestra Friday evening classical concerts will be broadcast regionally on YourClassical MPR stations, continuing a longtime partnership with Minnesota Public Radio. To experience the highlights of the upcoming slate of events, folks can attend 2025-26 Season Sampler concert on Saturday, March 22, for as little as $5.
Classical
Music Director Thomas Søndergård’s third season features collaborations including vocalists Joyce DiDonato, Lauren Snouffer, and Janai Brugger; three programs associated with the latest Nordic Soundscapes festival with pre-concert activities celebrating Nordic culture, cuisine, cocktails and design; the opera-in-concert program of Bartók’s thriller Bluebeard’s Castle; and worldwide phenomenon Yo-Yo Ma performing the Edward Elgar Cello Concerto in March. The full schedule, including holiday-themed programming, follows below. Find more information at the featured links.
Sept. 18 & 19: Søndergård, DiDonato and Strauss with mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato
(Friday, Sept. 19 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
Sept. 26 & 27: Søndergård and Ross with cellist Anthony Ross
(Friday, Sept. 26 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
Oct. 10 & 11: Kavakos, Mozart and Shostakovich with violinist and conductor Leonidas Kavakos
(Friday, Oct. 10 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
Oct. 16, 17 & 18: Beethoven Fifth Symphony with pianist Elisabeth Brauss
(Friday, Oct. 17 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
Oct. 30 & 31: David Afkham Returns with pianist Janice Carissa
(Friday, Oct. 31 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
Nov. 13 & 14: Søndergård Conducts Symphonie fantastique with violinist Benjamin Beilman
(Friday, Nov. 14 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
Nov. 21 & 22: Søndergård Conducts Brahms Requiem
(Friday, Nov. 21 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
Dec. 4 & 5: Dvořák New World Symphony with violinist Yi Zhao, cellist Erik Wheeler, oboist Kate Wegener and bassoonist J. Christopher Marshall
(Friday, Dec. 5 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
Dec. 31 & Jan. 1: A New Year’s Celebration with the Minnesota Orchestra with pianist Aaron Diehl
(Thursday, Jan. 1 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
Jan. 8 & 9: Nordic Soundscapes Festival - Søndergård and Ehnes
(Friday, Jan. 9 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
Jan. 16 & 17: Nordic Soundscapes Festival - Søndergård Conducts Sibelius with soprano Lauren Snouffer
(Friday, Jan. 16 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
Jan. 30 & 31: Gabel, Debussy and Dukas with violist Rebecca Albers
(Friday, Jan. 30 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
Feb. 13 & 14: Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff
(Friday, Feb. 13 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
Feb. 19 & 20: Vänskä, Keefe and Stravinsky with violinist Erin Keefe and conductor Osmo Vänskä
(Friday, Feb. 20 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
Feb. 26: Lunar New Year with Chia-Hsuan Lin and Rui Du leading, and suona virtuoso Yazhi Guo
(Friday, Feb. 26 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
March 3: Yo-Yo Ma with the Minnesota Orchestra
March 6 & 7: Søndergård Conducts Bruckner
(Friday, March 6 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
March 13 & 14: Søndergård, Gerstein and Bernstein with pianist Kirill Gerstein
(Friday, March 13 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
March 19, 20 & 21: Beethoven Symphony No. 9
(Friday, March 20 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
March 27 & 28: Barnatan Plays Rachmaninoff
(Friday, March 27 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
April 9 & 10: Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 with violinist Leila Josefowicz
(Friday, April 10 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
April 23 & 24: Brahms Symphony No. 4 with oboist Nathan Hughes
(Friday, April 24 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
May 1: More to Hear: The Listening Project with Music Director Thomas Søndergård and soprano Janai Brugger
May 8 & 9: Søndergård Conducts Wagner and Bartók with mezzo Michelle DeYoung and baritone John Lundgren performing opera-in-concert of Bluebeard’s Castle
(Friday, May 8 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
May 28 & 29: Hindoyan and Rieppel with timpanist Erich Rieppel
(Friday, May 29 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
June 4, 5 & 6: Søndergård, Barton and Prokofiev with mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton performing Peter Lieberson’s Neruda Songs
(Friday, June 5 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
June 12 & 13: Søndergård and Tchaikovsky with pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk
(Friday, June 12 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
June 18: Juneteenth with composer Brian Nabors and Broadway vocalist Melody Betts
(Thursday, June 18 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
Chamber
Four special chamber events featuring Minnesota Orchestra musicians will be held in Orchestra Hall as part of the 25-26 season.
Jan. 10: Nordic Soundscapes Festival - Chamber Music in the Hall with James Ehnes
Feb. 15: Beethoven, Fuchs and Schoenberg
March 29: Poulenc, Bartók and Ravel
May 31: Bacewicz, Bax and Chausson with special guest pianist Inon Barnatan
Live at Orchestra Hall
Curated and primarily conducted by Sarah Hicks, this year’s Live at Orchestra Hall brings together crossover performances with pop music, film soundtracks, and themed holiday concerts. Dessa is back for a pair of performances with the Minnesota Orchestra in November and the psychedelic rock of Pink Floyd is the focus in February 2026. The film offerings include Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, The Princess Bride, The Goonies and more.
Sept. 30, Oct. 3, Oct. 4 & Oct. 5: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert
Oct. 24 & 25: The Goonies in Concert
Nov. 7 & 8: Dessa Returns
Nov. 29 & 30: The Princess Bride in Concert
Dec. 10: Cody Fry Christmas
Dec. 12 & 13: Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert
Dec. 14: Merry & Bright
Dec. 19 & 20: Troupe Vertigo: Cirque Nutcracker
Feb. 6 & 7: The Music of Pink Floyd
Feb. 27 & 28: Ben Rector: Songs for America
April 10, 17 & 18: Disney in Concert: The Sound of Magic
May 15, 16 & 17: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ in Concert
June 20 & 21: Disney Pride in Concert
July 16, 17 & 18: Beethoven Triple Concerto with violinist Sarah Grimes and cellist Silver Ainomäe, and guest pianist Alessio Bax
(Friday, July 17 concert will be broadcast live on YourClassical MPR)
Family
Five events geared directly towards families with young children are part of the new season.
Oct. 18: Fall Sensory-Friendly Concert
Nov. 9: Magnificent Musical Creatures
Feb. 10: Winter Sensory-Friendly Concert
March 15: Symphonic Storytelling
March 28: Spring Sensory-Friendly Concert
For access to tickets right away, check out the Minnesota Orchestra’s ticket packages, and single tickets go on sale July 29.
Read more about Minnesota Orchestra’s new season at minnesotaorchestra.org: Come Together to Listen: Introducing the 2025-26 Season
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