The Hallé announces a thrillingly diverse 2025/26 season

The Hallé, Manchester’s globally renowned orchestra, has officially unveiled its bold and dazzlingly eclectic 2025/26 season featuring classical masterpieces, world premieres, superstar collaborations and more across a programme ranging from large-scale symphonic repertoire to intimate chamber music.

Check out the full brochure for the Hallé’s 2025/26 season HERE.

After his electrifying inaugural season at the helm, Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor Kahchun Wong presents another wondrously diverse series of programmes that celebrates timeless masterworks and thrilling new compositions alike.

In his opening concert, Wong is joined by Norwegian cellist Truls Mørk for Shostakovich’s Festive Overture, Elgar’s Cello Concerto and Rachmaninov Second Symphony, before returning for the opening Rush Hour show featuring Elgar’s beloved Enigma Variations and a Hallé co-commission by Max Richter, performed alongside Featured Artist Anna Lapwood.

Throughout the 25/26 season, Wong will also conduct music from the likes of Verdi, Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Holst, Wagner, Brahms and Bartok, culminating in Mahler’s intricate, enigmatic Symphony No. 6 in the closing concert.

He will also welcome a cohort of esteemed international guest artists to the stage, including Akiko Suwanai performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, Jan Vogler for Shostakovich’s formidable First Cello Concerto, and Viktoria Mullova for Brahms’ Cello Concerto.

Elsewhere, Conductor Emeritus Sir Mark Elder returns for two unmissable concerts, first joining long-term collaborator Dame Imogen Cooper for Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27 and Dvorak’s Fifth Symphony. In May, he leads the Hallé Choir and Ukrainian baritone Andrii Kymach in a long-awaited reunion of their memorable 2023 BBC Proms performance.

Once again reinforcing their global reputation for innovative collaboration, the Hallé will partner with an assortment of major artists throughout the season, including new Featured Composer Unsuk Chin, who will present the world premiere of her dazzling new work; Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood, who joins in the new position of Hallé Presents Featured Artist; and renowned organist Anna Lapwood, who is set to perform across all strands of the Hallé’s programmes as Featured Artist, showcasing some of the finest music ever written for the instrument.

The new season will feature another round of peerlessly ambitious contemporary collaborations with ‘The Hallé Presents…’, including a three-day autumn festival celebrating the work of composer and conductor John Adams, who also joins forces with acclaimed violinist Leila Josefowicz to perform Scheherazade.2, a piece written specially for her.

Performing for the first time in Aviva Studios, the Hallé will present an immersive and visually stunning interpretation of Anno, featuring composer Anna Meredith and Hallé Leader Roberto Ruisi.

As part of its longstanding commitment to commissioning and championing new music, the orchestra will also premiere a wide array of new works including a piece as part of the John Adams festival, the world premiere of Jonny Greenwood’s latest revision of Horror Vacui, the Manchester premiere of Max Richter’s Cosmology, UK premieres of Nico Muhly’s Doom Painting and Unsuk Chin’s Le Silence des Sirenes and many more.

Whether you’re a classical connoisseur or a musical newbie, the 2025/26 season promises an endless variety of live concerts for audiences of all tastes to enjoy and experience the full scope of orchestral majesty, from guitar anthems and Broadway classics to swinging Gatsby-esque jazz shows and even a screening of The Silence of the Lambs set to a live rendition of Howard Shore’s legendary score.

There will also be a series of inclusive Relaxed Concerts at Hallé St. Peter’s and the return of the Hallé’s enchanting Christmas programme, which includes carol concerts, a performance of Messiah and child-friendly concerts featuring Shaun the Sheep and the Snowman.

David Butcher, Hallé Chief Executive said: “We are thrilled to be launching another incredible and innovative season of music. This year we have such an extraordinary range of music to explore, and we are honoured to be working and collaborating with such an impressive line-up of talented artists. We’ve had an exceptional response from audiences over the last few seasons, and we hope to continue welcoming more people to experience the incredible power of their Hallé orchestra.”

Kahchun Wong, Principal Conductor & Artistic Advisor said: “As we embark on this new season, I am excited to continue building on our shared passion for music. Whether it’s your first concert or one of many, I hope each performance leaves you inspired, moved and eager for more.”

Check out the full Hallé concert schedule for this summer and the 2025/26 concert season via the website.

Image credit: Alex Burns