Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra Announces its 2025/26 Season
Find Out with Tarmo Peltokoski

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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[20 May 2025, Hong Kong] The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) today unveiled its 2025/26 season, with Tarmo Peltokoski, the Orchestra’s Music Director Designate before he becomes the Music Director in September 2026. A total of 26 mainstage programmes have been announced, featuring an international roster of outstanding guest artists and ensembles.

Tarmo Peltokoski stated: “It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s 52nd Season as I embark on this exciting journey with you as Music Director Designate. This season, I will present three wonderful programmes, all featuring the extraordinary compositions by my dear friend and mentor Esa-Pekka Salonen, who will be our Composer-in-Residence. We also have an impressive lineup of guest artists joining us. I invite you to join us and find out what this season has to offer. Let’s explore the beauty of music together!”

Highlights of the HK Phil’s 2025/26 season include:

• Music Director Designate Tarmo Peltokoski conducts three programmes;
• Internationally acclaimed conductor and composer Esa-Pekka Salonen joins the HK Phil as Composer-in-Residence, with five of his works performed;
• World-acclaimed maestri, soloists and choir in the spotlight - Daniele Gatti, Daniel Harding, Michael Sanderling, Tan Dun, Jaap van Zweden, Kahchun Wong; pianist Emanuel Ax, Lang Lang, violinists Anne-Sophie Mutter and Leila Josefowicz, soprano Renée Fleming; the London Philharmonic Choir;
• HK Phil Principals and Hong Kong artists on stage – Jing Wang, Andrew Ling and Richard Bamping from the HK Phil; violinist Angela Chan, composers Elliot Leung, Daniel Lo and Charles Kwong, and the HK Phil Chorus;
• Tours to Europe, Japan, Korea and Mainland China;
• Ongoing efforts to make classical music more inclusive and accessible through various activities, including the Swire Symphony Under the Stars, "Swire Music for Everyone" series, Jockey Club TUTTI programme, community concerts, education programmes and school visits. 

Tarmo Peltokoski, Music Director Designate

Music Director Designate Tarmo Peltokoski conducts three programmes in the 2025/26 season, featuring the works by Esa-Pekka Salonen, as well as masterpieces by Grieg, Sibelius, Shostakovich and Vaughan Williams.

• Tarmo Peltokoski conducts a Nordic-inspired concert in December. The evening opens with Castor by Esa-Pekka Salonen, a piece inspired by the twin brothers of Greek mythology, Castor and Pollux. Superstar pianist Lang Lang performs Grieg’s lyrical Piano Concerto, followed by Sibelius’s Lemminkäinen Suite to conclude the concert. The concert is exclusively title sponsored by Standard Chartered Global Private Bank (11 & 13 December 2025).
• Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Violin Concerto, specially written for Leila Josefowicz, will be performed by the original soloist herself. Premiered in 2009, the piece is described by the composer as “a kind of summary of my experiences as a musician and a human being at the watershed age of 50.” Conducted by Tarmo Peltokoski, the programme concludes with Shostakovich’s Symphony no. 11 (24 April 2026).
• Tarmo Peltokoski wraps up the season with Salonen’s Pollux, followed by Vaughan Williams’s expansive A Sea Symphony, which sets the poetry of Walt Whitman to music, featuring soprano Chen Reiss, bass-baritone Andrè Schuen, the HK Phil Chorus, and the London Philharmonic Choir. (3 & 4 July 2026).

Esa-Pekka Salonen, Composer-in-Residence

As both a lauded composer and a world-renowned conductor, Esa-Pekka Salonen has a restless innovation that marks him as one of the most important artists in classical music. He currently serves as the Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony and the Conductor Laureate of the Philharmonia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestras. In the 2025/26 season, five of his compositions will be performed by the HK Phil, including the Asia premiere of his Horn Concerto conducted by himself.

• Tarmo Peltokoski will conduct Salonen’s Castor on 11 & 13 December 2025, Violin Concerto on 24 April 2026, and Pollux on 3 & 4 July 2026.
• Ruth Reinhardt will conduct Salonen’s Gambit on 5 & 6 December 2025.
• Esa-Pekka Salonen makes his HK Phil debut as a conductor with a programme that places the horn in the spotlight – from Strauss’s Don Juan to his own Horn Concerto and Sibelius’s Symphony no. 5, whose final movement features the iconic horn theme inspired by sixteen swans in flight. Stefan Dohr, Principal Horn of the Berlin Philharmonic, performs the Asia premiere of Salonen’s Horn Concerto, co-commissioned by the HK Phil. This is a Swire Maestro Series concert (1 & 2 May 2026).

International Line-up of Stellar Artists

• Daniel Harding opens the new season with a programme featuring pianist Paul Lewis in a Mozart concerto, alongside Haydn’s La passione symphony and Richard Strauss’s tone poem Don Quixote. HK Phil Principal Cello Richard Bamping and Principal Viola Andrew Ling will step into the spotlight as Don Quixote and Sancho Panza (18 & 19 September 2025).
• Legendary soprano Renée Fleming, a four-time Grammy winner will bring her award-winning album, Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene, to the HK Phil stage. This multi-media performance features a film by the National Geographic Society, showcasing breathtaking locations from the Amazon rainforest to Yosemite. Conducted by Robert Moody, the programme includes a mix of nature-inspired songs and spans the Baroque elegance of Handel through to the lyrical melodies of Canteloube, music from Björk and The Lord of the Rings. The artists are joined by the HK Phil Chorus (24 & 25 October 2025).
• Korean pianist Hai-Kyung Suh, renowned for her Rachmaninov recordings, performs his Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in her HK Phil debut. Jaap van Zweden will guide the audience through Debussy’s La Mer. The evening opens with Schubert’s B minor symphony, unfinished yet justly celebrated. This is a Swire Maestro Series concert (16 & 17 January 2026).
• Following his success conducting Mahler’s Third Symphony in March 2025, Daniele Gatti returns to lead the HK Phil in Mahler’s Seventh Symphony. Often referred to as Mahler’s "Song of the Night," this symphony weaves an extravagant tapestry of orchestral colour (23 & 24 January 2026).
• Anne-Sophie Mutter brings her dazzling artistry to an all-John Williams programme, where classical grandeur intertwines with the music from silver-screen. At the heart of the evening is his Violin Concerto no. 2, a piece commissioned and written specifically for Mutter. Colombian-American conductor Lina Gonzalez-Granados will make her HK Phil debut. The concert is sponsored by Chow Sang Sang (29 & 30 January 2026).
• Conductor Kahchun Wong brings his orchestration of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition to Hong Kong, with soloists of Chinese music, blending the Western symphonic tradition with the vibrant sounds of Chinese instruments. Hong Kong violinist Angela Chan performs Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto to open the concert. This is a Jockey Club Masters Series concert under Jockey Club TUTTI Programme, exclusively sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. (8 & 9 May 2026).
• Inspired by philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, Richard Strauss’s symphonic poem Also sprach Zarathustra has become one of the most well-known pieces of classical music. German conductor Michael Sanderling returns to direct the HK Phil and the programme also features the world premiere of the Cello Concerto by Hong Kong-born British composer Dani Howard, co-commissioned by the HK Phil and performed by HK Phil Principal Cello Richard Bamping. This is a Swire Maestro Series concert (15 & 16 May 2026).
• German conductor Anja Bihlmaier returns with an all-Beethoven programme. Czech violinist Josef Špaček will make his HK Phil debut in the sublime Violin Concerto. The concert culminates with his most famous symphony, the triumphant Fifth (12 & 13 June 2026).

More with Principal Guest Conductor Long Yu

• The Hong Kong premiere of Tan Dun's Violin Concerto Hero captures the vast artistic vision of the epic martial arts world, while Elliot Leung’s Wuxia depicts the chivalrous spirit of Jin Yong's novels through music. Opening with Shostakovich's Festive Overture, HK Phil Principal Guest Conductor Long Yu conducts the music of “Heroes and Legends” in this National Day Concert, together with HK Phil Concertmaster Jing Wang and dizi performer Feng Tianshi. The concert is sponsored by CMB Wing Lung Bank (26 September 2025).
• In his third collaboration with the HK Phil, the Uzbek pianist Behzod Abduraimov will showcase his virtuosity and musicality in Rachmaninov’s timeless Second Concerto. The evening continues as Long Yu brings Rimsky-Korsakov’s masterpiece Scheherazade to life. This Belt and Road concert is title sponsored by Swire and supported by the Belt and Road Office of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (27 September 2025).
• Berlin Philharmonic Principal Violist Diyang Mei joins Long Yu and the orchestra to present a programme that intertwines the rich emotions of Joe Hisaishi and Brahms. Highlights include Hisaishi’s "Merry-Go-Round" and "Cave of Mind" from Howl’s Moving Castle, along with his Viola Saga. The evening culminates with Brahms’s Fourth Symphony (19 & 20 June 2026).

Piano Masters

• Japanese pianist Kyohei Sorita makes his debut with the HK Phil, showcasing his brilliance in Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto. Under the baton of HK Phil Resident Conductor Lio Kuokman, the concert also features Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony. The evening opens with a world premiere of Festina lente, a piece by Hong Kong composer Charles Kwong, offering a sneak preview of this pre-tour programme as the HK Phil prepares for performances in Japan and Korea (9 October 2025).
• Korean pianist Yeol Eum Son performs Liszt’s First Piano Concerto in her HK Phil debut. Joining her is conductor Roberto González-Monjas, completing the programme with Lutosławski's Variations on a Theme by Paganini and two Respighi tone poems, Fountains of Rome and Pines of Rome (29 November 2025).
• Renowned pianist Emanuel Ax makes a welcome return to perform Beethoven’s powerful Third Piano Concerto, a masterpiece of emotional depth. Rising conducting star Ruth Reinhardt opens the concert with Esa-Pekka Salonen’s vibrant Gambit. The HK Phil Chorus then joins for Brahms’ Nänie, a tribute to friendship and loss. The concert concludes with Hindemith’s Symphony: Mathis der Maler (5 & 6 December 2025).
• Macedonian pianist Simon Trpčeski returns to the HK Phil to perform Liszt’s Piano Concerto no. 2, a work that weaves technical brilliance with lyrical depth. Making his HK Phil debut, acclaimed Swiss conductor Philippe Jordan will direct the orchestra in a performance of two colourful works by Maurice Ravel: Valses nobles et sentimentales and the second suite of Daphnis et Chloé (12 February 2026).
• Renowned French pianist François-Frédéric Guy will perform and conduct all five Beethoven piano concertos. The five concertos trace the composer’s musical journey, from the youthful spirit of the First to the majestic grandeur of the Emperor. The concert is title sponsored by BNP Paribas Wealth Management (22 & 23 May 2026).

Holiday, Family and Pops

• Experience the music of James Horner in a tribute to the legendary composer on the 10^th anniversary of his death. With over 100 film scores, two Academy Awards, two Golden Globes, and numerous Oscar nominations, his most popular works include Titanic, Braveheart, and Avatar. Conducted by Dirk Brossé, highlights of the evening will include the timeless classic My Heart Will Go On, performed by Crisel Consunji. This is a Swire Denim Series concert (12 & 13 September 2025).
• Under the direction of conductor Kevin Zakresky, the HK Phil will guide the audience through an adventure featuring the unforgettable soundtracks from beloved games. The Heroes: A Video Game Symphony showcases iconic music that celebrates the hero’s quest, from thrilling triumphs to transformative journeys. This is a Swire Denim Series concert (31 October & 1 November 2025).
• Under the big screen at the film-in-concert performances, the HK Phil brings Frozen characters to life. The programme captures the wonder and excitement of the Disney classic, enhanced by heartwarming melodies performed live by the HK Phil. This Frozen Live in Concert will be conducted by Australian conductor Benjamin Northey (18-20 December 2025).
• The HK Phil will perform waltzes, marches and polkas by Johann Strauss and family, alongside the ever-popular Hungarian Dances of Brahms and the Hungarian Rhapsodies by Liszt for this year’s New Year’s Gala. Conductor Gergely Madaras will lead this musical journey. The concert is exclusively title sponsored by China Life (Overseas) (29 & 30 December 2025).
• The Magical Musical Meander family programme features fascinating storytelling, highlighting great composers from the past 350 years. The audience will experience the love and passion in Tchaikovsky’s ballet, Prokofiev’s love tragedy, and Debussy’s picture-book for his daughter, alongside music by Mozart, Ravel, and Vivaldi, presented by magician Harry Gor Gor and conducted by Joshua Tan. This is a Swire Family Series concert (10 & 11 April 2026).

Swire Symphony Under The Stars

• Conducted by Tan Dun, the HK Phil’s signature annual free outdoor mega-event, Swire Symphony Under The Stars, takes place in West Kowloon Cultural District on 22 November this year. Stay tuned for registration details.

Tours to Europe, Japan, Korea and Mainland China

• The HK Phil will make its debuts at Het Concertgebouw in Amsterdam (30 & 31 August 2025) and at two of Europe’s celebrated festivals: the Merano Festival in Italy (2 September 2025) and the Grafenegg Festival in Austria (5 September 2025), under the baton of Jaap van Zweden. Pianists Lucas and Arthur Jussen, Alexandre Kantorow and Rudolf Buchbinder will share the stage. The repertoire includes masterpieces by Beethoven, Rachmaninov and Joey Roukens. The evenings will open with Daniel Lo’s Asterismal Dance or Wagner’s Tannhauser Overture respectively.
• Resident Conductor Lio Kuokman will lead the HK Phil in performances in Hyogo and Kawasaki, Japan (13 & 14 October 2025), and Gwangju and in Seoul, Korea (18 & 19 October 2025), featuring Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto no. 1 and Symphony no. 5, with award-winning pianists Kyohei Sorita and Yekwon Sunwoo respectively. The concerts will open with Festina lente, a piece composed by Charles Kwong, commissioned by the HK Phil. The Seoul concert is part of the Hong Kong Week 2025 in Seoul.
• Returning to the Greater Bay Area, Daniele Gatti will bring Mahler’s Symphony no. 7 (25 January 2026), while Tarmo Peltokoski will lead performances of Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Violin Concerto and Shostakovich’s Symphony no. 11 (26 April 2026), both at the Xinghai Concert Hall in Guangzhou.

Chamber Music Concerts

This season, the HK Phil continues to present two exciting chamber music series: one co-presented with HKU MUSE and another in collaboration with Tai Kwun. Tarmo Peltokoski will perform as pianist with soprano Chen Reiss in HKU MUSE programme scheduled for 5 July 2026. The Tai Kwun series, with concerts on 10 November 2025, 9 February 2026 and 18 May 2026, will explore unique themes, showcasing a diverse range of composers and musical styles.

Subscription Period (22 May - 11 July 2025)

For the 2025/26 season, the HK Phil is delighted to re-launch the subscription plan. Create your own series by picking at least three of your favourite programmes. The more you order, the more you save. Subscribers are eligible for up to 30% discount. Discounts on select series are up to 40% off. Please visit hkphil.org/2526sub-series for details. Students, seniors, disabled and CSSA recipients enjoy 50% off for both subscription and single-ticket purchases.

The 2025/26 HK Phil subscription booking period will have two phases:

• Club Bravo Gold members and 2024/25 subscribers can enjoy the best savings and secure desired seats from 22 May 10:00am to 12 June 11:59pm, 2025;
• Subscription booking for the upcoming 2025/26 season opens to the public, including all Club Bravo members, from 13 June 10:00am to 11 July 11:59pm, 2025.

How to Subscribe

There are four ways to subscribe:

1. Online:           hkphil.org/2526sub-online  **Go green and submit online to save admin fees**
2. Email:            subscriptions@hkphil.org
3. Fax:               2721 1487
4. Post:             HK Phil Subscription Office, Level 8, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

Subscription Enquiries:

Please call 2721 2332 / 2721 0132 (10am – 6pm, Monday to Friday) or email us at subscriptions@hkphil.org.

Counter Sales Open

14 August 2025 (Thu) 10am

Education and Outreach Initiatives of the HK Phil

Swire Music for Everyone

The “Swire Music for Everyone” series brings audiences to dive deep into specific orchestral works. These free events offer a glimpse of a world-class orchestra in action. The events help audiences appreciate and understand how professional musicians work and experience behind-the-scene moments of HK Phil concerts. Online registration is required. Details will be announced on the HK Phil website.

Swire Community Concerts

The HK Phil performs around the community with the principal aim of increasing access to classical music. Free concerts are available to non-profit organisations and their networks. We are committed to improving the concert experience for people with various needs so that they can enjoy music to the fullest. Please stay tuned for details.

The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Hong Kong Composers Scheme

The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Hong Kong Composers Scheme (2018–2024) provided a vital platform

for emerging Hong Kong composers to develop their skills in orchestral writing. Over its last three editions, the Scheme has supported 18 composers, offering them the opportunity to refine their craft under the guidance of esteemed international mentors.

The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Hong Kong Composers Scheme is sponsored by The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Hong Kong.

Jockey Club TUTTI Programme

The Jockey Club TUTTI Programme (Tuning Up Talents, Transforming Individuals) is the HK Phil’s flagship education initiative, generously supported by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. Launched in the 2024/25 season, this three-year programme is designed to nurture local music talents through engagements with both international and local artists. Highlights include the “Jockey Club Masters Series” concerts, which bring world-renowned maestri to Hong Kong, along with comprehensive education programmes and interactive outreach activities. All education and school events are free, ensuring high-quality musical experiences are accessible to all students, particularly those underprivileged.

Jockey Club TUTTI Programme is exclusively sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

JC Project MuSE

JC Project MuSE is a school-based music (Mu) and sports (S) education (E) programme, initiated and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. It offers free, high-quality and tailored music and sports programmes to primary school children in the most impoverished areas of Hong Kong. It aims to develop children’s artistic and physical literacy and to enhance their positive whole-person development, emotional well-being and academic advancement, thereby endowing them with the best opportunities for future growth and development. JC Project MuSE is co-organised by Hong Kong Baptist University, SF&OC Sports Legacy, The Education University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.

JC Project MuSE is initiated and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

The Young Audience Scheme and HK Phil Community Concerts

The Young Audience Scheme aims to encourage local full-time students aged 6 – 25 to attend concerts and experience the orchestral repertoire, with a hope to boost their interest in classical music.  Membership offers ticket discounts, rewards, and a variety of activities, including open rehearsals and musical games. Free HK Phil Community Concerts bring world-class orchestral music to communities in different districts each year. For more information, please visit hkphil.org/yas.

The Young Audience Scheme and HK Phil Community Concerts are sponsored by The Tung Foundation

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Connect with Us

The HK Phil’s informative website hkphil.org offers the latest concert and ticketing information. Music lovers can also subscribe our E-news subscription (www.hkphil.org/form/enews), or stay connected on the HK Phil’s social media platforms, including Facebook (www.facebook.com/HKPhil),

Instagram (www.instagram.com/hkphilharmonic/),

LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/the-hong-kong-philharmonic-society-ltd),

RedNote (https://go.hkphil.org/xiaohongshu), and WeChat (please scan the QR code below). Videos from the HK Phil are also available on YouTube (www.youtube.com/HKPhilharmonic) and Bilibili (http://space.bilibili.com/1857720921).

HK Phil WeChat Channel:    

hkphil.org/follow-our-wechat

Thank You Partners

The HK Phil would like to express its heartfelt gratitude to the following partners for their support:

Major Funding Body: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Principal Patron: Swire

Venue Partner: Hong Kong Cultural Centre

“Jockey Club Tutti Programme” Exclusive Sponsor

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust

Programme Sponsors

• BNP Paribas Wealth Management
• China Life (Overseas)
• Chow Sang Sang
• CMB Wing Lung Bank
• Standard Chartered Global Private Bank
• Swire

The Tung Foundation Young Audience Scheme is sponsored by

• The Tung Foundation

The Resident Conductor’s Podium for Lio Kuokman is sponsored by

• C.C. Chiu Memorial Fund
• The Tung Foundation

The Chair Endowment for Concertmaster Jing Wang is sponsored by

• Sun Hung Kai & Co. Foundation

The Chair Endowment for Principal Viola Andrew Ling is sponsored by

• Kaleidoscope Charitable Foundation

The Chair Endowment for Principal Cello Richard Bamping is sponsored by

• C.C. Chiu Memorial Fund

The Chair Endowment for Second Violin Tomoko Tanaka is sponsored by

• Cissy Pao & Shin Watari

Official Logistics Partner

• Kerry Logistics

Hotel Partner

• The Peninsula Hong Kong

Honorary Auditor

• KPMG

Pro-bono Legal Counsel

• O’Melveny

Media Partner

• POAD

Brand Experience Partner

• Quintessentially

Notes to Editors

• Free Choice Programme – select three or more concerts to create your own season package, and enjoy a discount of up to 30%. Discounts on select series are up to 40% off
• Subscribers’ benefits include best savings, best available seats and flexible ticketing services.
• Season Subscription Booking Deadline: 11 July 2025 (Friday)
• URBTIX public ticket sales start from 14 August 2025 (Thursday)