Aveline Kirana
The international classical music landscape is set to be transformed by an ambitious and star-studded 2026-2027 season, featuring a dazzling array of orchestras, ensembles, conductors, and soloists across Paris and beyond. From the intricate baroque beauty of Handel and Bach to the dramatic sweep of Berlioz and Wagner, and the innovative spirit of contemporary composers, this season promises a rich tapestry of musical experiences for aficionados and newcomers alike. The programming highlights a commitment to both canonical masterpieces and the exploration of lesser-known yet significant works, particularly those by female composers, underscoring a forward-looking approach to musical heritage.
The season officially launches in October 2026 with a series of high-profile performances that immediately signal the caliber of artistry to be expected. Les Arts Florissants, under the baton of Paul Agnew, will present Handel’s "Riccardo primo" on October 11, 2026. This opera, a lesser-performed gem of Handel’s oeuvre, offers a compelling narrative and showcases the ensemble’s renowned expertise in Baroque performance practice. The cast is led by the celebrated countertenor Jakub Józef Orlinski, a rising star known for his captivating stage presence and vocal prowess, alongside Mélissa Petit, Juliette Mey, Andreas Wolf, Hugh Cutting, and Alex Rosen, promising a rendition steeped in historical authenticity and artistic brilliance.
Following closely, on October 18, 2026, the Orchestre de Paris, guided by Klaus Mäkelä, will tackle the monumental Berlioz masterpiece, "Roméo et Juliette." This dramatic symphony, often performed with a chorus and soloists, is a profound exploration of Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy through Berlioz’s uniquely Romantic lens. The solo roles will be embodied by Marianne Crebassa and Jean Teitgen, whose interpretations are anticipated to bring the emotional depth of the characters to life. The scale of this production, involving a major orchestra and likely a chorus, signifies a significant undertaking and a cornerstone event of the early season.
The latter half of October sees the venerable Jordi Savall return to the forefront, conducting Le Concert des Nations in an all-Brahms program on October 21 and 22, 2026. Savall, a titan of early music and a respected interpreter of later periods, brings his distinctive intellectual rigor and passionate performance style to Brahms’s symphonic works, likely focusing on his chamber or orchestral arrangements that allow for intimate yet powerful expression. Soloists Lina Johnson and Matthias Winckhler are expected to deliver nuanced performances, further enriching the Brahmsian soundscape.
November 2026 ushers in a diverse range of repertoire and ensembles. The Paris Mozart Orchestra, on November 7, 2026, will present a program featuring works by Chopin, Viardot, MacCoy, and Beethoven, with mezzo-soprano Floriane Hasler as soloist. This curation is notable for its inclusion of female composers, particularly Pauline Viardot and Louise MacCoy, highlighting a growing trend in programming to bring their significant contributions to the fore. Pygmalion, under the direction of Raphaël Pichon, will take the stage on November 10, 2026, performing a rich program spanning Bruckner, Mendelssohn, Schubert, Mozart, and Michael Haydn. The soloists for this ambitious undertaking include Sabine Devieilhe, Xenia Puskarz Thomas, Kieran Carrel, and Huw Montague Rendall, promising a night of varied stylistic explorations.
A significant historical offering arrives on November 25, 2026, as Les Arts Florissants, this time led by its founder William Christie, presents Claudio Monteverdi’s "Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda Madrigaux." This early operatic work, a pivotal piece in the development of dramatic music, will be performed with its characteristic intensity and intimacy by a stellar cast including Paul Agnew, Ana Vieira Leite, Rebecca Leggett, Mélodie Ruvio, Bastien Rimondi, and Edward Grint. The return of Christie to this seminal work, a piece he has championed throughout his career, is a cause for celebration among early music enthusiasts.
The end of November brings two powerful war-themed works. On November 26 and 27, 2026, Marin Alsop will conduct Britten’s "War Requiem" with the Orchestre de Paris. This monumental and deeply moving work, a powerful anti-war statement woven from Benjamin Britten’s own poems and Wilfred Owen’s war poetry, is a testament to the enduring power of music to address profound human experiences. The soloists Natalya Romaniw, Thomas Atkins, and Markus Werba are poised to deliver emotionally charged performances. Concurrently, on November 30, 2026, Daniel Harding and Rachel Willis-Sørensen will lead a concert of Strauss and Brahms with the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, exploring the rich Romantic repertoire with acclaimed artists.
The season continues its rich exploration of vocal and instrumental music into December 2026. On December 4, Adèle Charvet and Florian Caroubi will present a program dedicated to the works of a remarkable constellation of female composers: Henriëtte Bosmans, Nadia Boulanger, Marguerite Canal, Hedwige Chrétien, Marie Damaschino, Madeleine Dubois, Marie Jaëll, Madeleine Lemariey, Poldowski, and Rita Strohl. This concert is a significant cultural statement, bringing to light the often-overlooked contributions of women to classical music and offering a unique opportunity to engage with their diverse voices. Le Concert d’Astrée, led by Emmanuelle Haïm, will perform Handel’s "Messiah" on December 5, 2026, with a distinguished cast including Lucy Crowe, Carlo Vistoli, Lunga Eric Hallam, and Ashley Riches, promising a vibrant and authoritative interpretation of this beloved oratorio.
Further highlighting the importance of pedagogical programs, Ton Koopman will lead the Orchestre de chambre de Paris and residents of the Académie de l’Opéra de Paris in Mozart’s "Requiem" on December 6, 2026. This collaboration underscores the nurturing of young talent and their integration into professional performance settings. Il Pomo d’Oro, joined by Mèlissa Petit and Jakub Józef Orlinski, will perform Pergolesi’s "Stabat Mater" on December 8, a poignant and emotionally resonant sacred work. Marc Mauillon will present a diverse program on December 11, exploring works by Georges Aperghis, Bernard de Vendadorn, Blanche de Castille, Lorenzo da Firenze, Jehan de Lescurel, Guillaume de Machaut, Gratiosus de Padua, Philippe Leroux, Meredith Monk, and Giacinto Scelsi, showcasing a breadth of historical and contemporary vocal repertoire.
The final weeks of 2026 are marked by further engagements with renowned artists and ensembles. Jordi Savall returns on December 12, leading Les Musiciennes du Concert des Nations and La Capella Reial de Catalunya in a program of Vivaldi, featuring soloists Jaia Niborski, Elionor Martinez, Lara Morger, Mercè Bruguera, and Anastasiia Erofeeva. On December 15, Les Arts Florissants, under Paul Agnew, will present Handel’s "Acis et Galatée" with Gwendoline Blondeel, Moritz Kallenberg, Bastien Rimondi, and Callum Thorpe. Also on December 15, a remarkable ensemble of artists including Gabriel Bianco, Lucile Boulanger, David Kadouch, Pierre Fouchenneret, Théo Fouchenneret, Manon Galy, Marie-Laure Garnier, Léa Hennino, Marielou Jacquard, Anastasie Lefebvre De Rieux, Constance Luzzati, Héloïse Luzzati, Fiona McGown, Raphaëlle Moreau, Célia Oneto Bensaid, Marie Perbost, Sandrine Piau, Vanessa Wagner, and Tanguy de Williencourt will perform works by Madeleine Dring, Armande de Polignac, Florence Price, Marguerite Roesgen-Champion, and Susan Spain-Dunn, continuing the significant focus on women composers. The Orchestre National d’Île-de-France, conducted by Hervé Niquet, will present a delightful program of popular orchestral works by Leroy Anderson, Henri Betti, George Gershwin, Charles Gounod, Reynaldo Hahn, Louis-Ferdinand Hérold, Victorin Joncières, Louiguy Auguste Mermet, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Jacques Offenbach, Colette Renard, and Roger Roger on December 18, with Marie Perbost as soloist.
The new year commences in January 2027 with a strong international presence. On January 15 and 16, John Adams will conduct the London Symphony Orchestra in a program of his own music, with Russell Thomas as soloist. This marks a significant presentation of contemporary American classical music on a grand scale. Also on January 15, Marielou Jacquard will present works by Amy Beach, Marcelle de Manziarly, Poldowski, Henriette Puig-Roget, Marguerite Roesgen-Champion, Ethel Smyth, Charlotte Sohy, Rita Strohl, Jane Vieu, and Grace Williams, accompanied by Clémence de Forceville, Violaine Despeyroux, Héloïse Luzzati, Anastasie Lefebvre De Rieux, Constance Luzzati, and Rodolphe Théry, further emphasizing the season’s commitment to showcasing female composers. Bizet’s beloved opera "Les Pêcheurs de perles" will be staged on January 17, 2027, with Manon Lamaison, Sahy Ratia, Eunay Köse, and Louis Morvan, conducted by Joshua Weilerstein leading the Orchestre National de Lille. Philippe Herreweghe will conduct Bach’s "Mass in B Minor" on January 26, 2027, with a distinguished quartet of soloists: Marie Luise Werneburg, Yerin Mira, Alex Potter, Guy Cutting, and Matthias Lika.
February 2027 continues with a focus on diverse repertoire and renowned performers. On February 9, Les Arts Florissants, under Paul Agnew, will present songs by Purcell with soloists Georgia Burashko, Bastien Rimondi, and Sreten Manojlovic, celebrating the English Baroque master. Heinz Holliger’s "Scardanelli-Zyklus" will be performed on February 19, 2027, by the Ensemble intercontemporain and Chœur de la Radio Lettone, under the direction of Thierry Fischer, with Sophie Cherrier on flute. The Orchestre Pasdeloup, led by Johanna Malangré, will perform music by Price, Gershwin, and Augusta Read-Thomas on February 20, featuring soprano Mariamielle Lamagat. Donizetti’s dramatic opera "Lucia di Lammermoor" will be presented on February 21, 2027, starring Nadine Sierra, Levy Sekgapane, Eunay Köse, and Alessio Cacciamani, with the Orchestre et Chœur de l’Opéra de Bordeaux conducted by Ana María Patiño-Osorio. Bach’s "St John Passion" will be performed on February 23, 2027, by the B’Rock Orchestra and Zürcher Sing-Akademie, conducted by René Jacobs, with a stellar cast including Mari Eriksmoen, James Hall, Thomas Walker, Mark Milhofer, and Yannick Debus. The month concludes with Mendelssohn’s "Elijah" on February 25 and 26, conducted by Daniel Harding with the Orchestre de Paris and its choruses, featuring soloists Liv Redpath, Svetlina Stoyanova, Andrew Staples, Christian Gerhaher, and Richard Wilberforce.
March 2027 is a particularly rich month, featuring a Wagnerian cycle and a celebration of French chanson and operetta. On March 3, Benjamin Bernheim will join pianist Carrie-Ann Matheson for an evening of music by Bizet, Massenet, Puccini, and Tchaikovsky. March 7 sees two significant events: Marielou Jacquard and Lucile Richardot join Célia Oneto Bensaid for an evening of Cabaret, and Christopher Lowrey will join the chorus of the Orchestre de Paris for music by Bernstein, Britten, Oldham, and Sibelius. The following day, March 8, Lucile Richardot and Anne de Fornel will join Trio SR9 for songs by Jeanne Cherhal, Albin de la Simone, No Doubt, Véronique Sanson, Anne Sylvestre, and Boris Vian, showcasing a blend of contemporary and classic French popular music. From March 9-13, Donizetti’s "L’Elisir d’Amore" will be performed by students from the Conservatoire de Paris, directed by Myriam Marzouki and conducted by Tito Ceccherini.
The major operatic event of March is Gianandrea Noseda’s conducting of Wagner’s complete "Ring Cycle" with the Zurich Opera. "Das Rheingold" opens the cycle on March 9, followed by "Die Walküre" on March 10, "Siegfried" on March 12, and "Götterdämmerung" on March 14. This ambitious undertaking features a star-studded cast including Michael Volle, Klaus Florian Vogt, Tanja Ariane Baumgartner, Vida Miknevičiūtė, Mika Kares, and Camilla Nylund across the various operas, representing a significant operatic achievement for the season.
Further programming in March includes Sir Simon Rattle conducting the Freiburger Barockorchester in Bach’s "St Matthew Passion" on March 13, with soloists Reinoud Van Mechelen, Tomáš Král, Roderick Williams, Miriam Feuersinger, and Magdalena Kožená. Verdi’s "Il Trovatore" will be presented on March 16 by Le Cercle de l’Harmonie, conducted by Jérémie Rhorer, with Ernesto Petti, Olga Peretyatko, Aude Extrémo, and Murat Karahan in leading roles. The Orchestre National d’Île-de-France, under Case Scaglione, will perform Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 on March 22, with soloist Justina Gringytė. On the same day, William Christie and Les Arts Florissants will dedicate an evening to Luigi Rossi’s "Oratorio per la Settimana Santa."
The latter part of March 2027 continues to impress with its breadth. Jordi Savall returns on March 23, leading Le Concert des Nations and La Capella Nacional de Catalunya in music by Michel-Richard de Lalande, Georg Friedrich Haendel, and Arvo Pärt, with soloists including Jaia Niborski, Anna Piroli, Lara Morger, David Tricou, Ferran Mitjans, and Mauro Borgioni. On March 25, Camila Mandillo and João Casimiro Almeida will present works by George Crumb, Olivier Messiaen, and Kaija Saariaho. March 25 and 26 will feature Pygmalion, Orchestre du Conservatoire de Paris, and NFM Choir, under Raphaël Pichon, performing works by Stravinsky, Honegger, Beethoven, Ives, and Schönberg. The Ensemble intercontemporain and Chœur de chambre Les Éléments, conducted by Pierre Bleuse, will perform music by Josquin Desprez, Carlo Gesualdo, Tomás Luis de Victoria, and Joan Magrané Figuera on March 26. Bach’s "St Matthew Passion" will be presented again on March 30, this time by Leonardo García-Alarcón and Cappella Mediterranea, with a distinguished cast including Valerio Contaldo, Alex Rosen, Sophie Junker, Hugh Cutting, Laurence Kilsby, and Andreas Wolf. The season concludes March with La Tempête performing works by Byrd, de Lassus, Martin, de Morales, Nystedt, de Orto, Pärt, and Tallis, directed by Simon-Pierre Bestion on March 31.
April 2027 opens with a grand performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, conducted by Jaap van Zweden, with soloists Hanna-Elisabeth Müller and Michaela Schuster on April 2. Rameau’s "Hippolyte et Aricie" will be staged on April 11 by Les Talens Lyriques, conducted by Christophe Rousset, featuring a notable cast including Reinoud Van Mechelen, Marie Lys, Aphrodite Patoulidou, Christian Immler, Juliette Mey, Neima Fischer, Philippe Estèphe, Lysandre Châlon, Kieran White, Jordan Mouaïssia, and Adrien Fournaison. Les Arts Florissants and William Christie will dedicate April 26 to a program of Jean-Philippe Rameau’s music, a fitting tribute to the French Baroque master. On April 29, the Ensemble Correspondances and Sébastien Daucé will present Bach Cantatas with soloists Caroline Weynants, Blandine De Sansal, Rory Carver, Sébastien Myrus, and Lysandre Châlon.
The final months of the season, May and June 2027, continue to offer a rich and diverse program. On May 10, the Divertimento, Chœur Sorbonne Université, and Chœur de l’Université Paris Sciences et Lettres will showcase music by Ella Fitzgerald, George Gershwin, William Grant Still, Lil Hardlin Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Etta James, Florence Price, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Nina Simone, and George Walker, a vibrant tribute to American music across genres and eras, with a particular emphasis on Black composers. The Ensemble intercontemporain, under Susanna Mälkki, will be joined by Lotte Betts-Dean for music by Bertrand, Djordjević, Schönberg, and Birtwistle on May 13. On the same day, Sandrine Piau and lutenist Benjamin Narvey will present music written by and for Luise Gottsched, featuring works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Johann Adolf Hasse, Wolff Jakob Lauffensteiner, and Silvius Leopold Weiss. Les Arts Florissants and Paul Agnew will lead a program of music by Johann Hermann Schein, Heinrich Schütz, and Claudio Monteverdi on May 18. The Orchestre de Paris and its choruses, under Klaus Mäkelä, will perform Stravinsky on May 27. On May 28, the Ensemble près de votre oreille, Anaïs Bertrand, Jean-Christophe Lanièce, Angélique Mauillon, Simon Waddell, and Robin Pharo will collaborate on music by Gabriel Bataille, Antoine Boesset, Jacques Champion de Chambonnières, François Dufaut, Gautier le Vieux, Pierre Guédron, and René Mézangeau, exploring the rich repertoire of 17th-century French music. Karen Vourc’h and Dima Bawa will join forces for music by Henri Duparc, Hanns Eisler, Komitas, Felix Mendelssohn, Claudio Monteverdi, Francis Poulenc, Maurice Ravel, and Kurt Weill on May 29. The season concludes on May 30 with "Viva Verdi!," featuring the Orchestre National d’Île-de-France, Chœurs des filières Voix des Conservatoires d’Île-de-France, and Alizée Lherson, a grand finale celebrating the iconic Italian composer. The final major orchestral event of the season sees Klaus Mäkelä leading the Orchestre de Paris and its associated choruses in Mahler’s monumental Symphony No. 8 on May 30, with an exceptional cast of soloists including Hailey Clark, Vida Miknevičiūtė, Miriam Kutrowatz, Jennifer Johnston, and Mika Kares, promising a spectacular conclusion to the symphonic offerings.
This extensive and meticulously curated season reflects a global commitment to presenting the highest caliber of classical music. The deliberate inclusion of works by female composers, the exploration of lesser-known historical repertoire, and the engagement of both established masters and emerging talents signal a dynamic and forward-thinking approach to programming. The sheer volume of performances, spanning from the early Baroque to contemporary premieres, ensures that the 2026-2027 season will be a landmark period for classical music enthusiasts, offering a rich dialogue between historical legacies and the vibrant present of musical creation. The collaborative efforts between major orchestras, renowned ensembles, and leading conservatories underscore a shared vision for fostering artistic excellence and broad public engagement with the transformative power of music.
