The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra has announced its 25- 26 Season under the artistic leadership of Music Director James Kahane. The season include nine full orchestra mainstage concerts at FirstOntario Concert Hall, in addition to other events that will be presented across the region.
“We are thrilled to share our 25-26 season program, building on the momentum from our HPO140 celebrations and continuing to evolve how we serve our community through music,” says Kim Varian, HPO Executive Director in a statement.
“Music Director James Kahane has programmed an invigorating 25-26 Season that takes audience on an expansive journey with something for everyone to discover. We share iconic orchestral works, celebrate Canadian talent, highlight new music by living composers, and welcome acclaimed guest artists to our stage. We look forward to seeing you in the concert hall and around our community in 25-26!”
HPO: Season at a Glance
The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra has been performing for audience for 140 years, with season 141 on the horizon. Here’s a look at the 2025/26 season in brief.
Mainstage Concerts
The Journey Begins (September 20, 2025)
James S. Kahane, Conductor
Roman Rabinovich, Piano
This season opening concert presents the first major hits by composers Sibelius, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, and the HPO’s Composer-in-Residence Abigail Richardson-Schulte. Music Director James Kahane leads the Orchestra in En Saga, described by Sibelius as “an adventure in an inner landscape”, a first symphony written by a teenage Shostakovich, and more.
The program includes;
- Jean Sibelius, En Saga
- Sergei Prokofiev, Piano Concerto No. 1
- Abigail Richardson-Schulte: Eris
- Dmitri Shostakovich, Symphony No. 1
Jurassic Park: Film with Orchestra (October 18, 2025)
Steven Spielberg’s monster hist comes to vivid life with a live accompaniment of John Williams’ iconic score.
Light Emerges (November 8, 2025)
Nil Venditti, Conductor
Leana Rutt, Cello
Destinations and deep emotions are the themes for this concert with guest conductor Nil Vendetti, and the HPO’s own Principal Cello Leana Rutt as the soloist in Elgar’s Cello Concerto.
The program includes:
- Giuseppe Verdi, La forza del destino
- Edward Elgar, Cello Concerto
- Wojciech Kilar, Orawa for Strings
- Felix Mendelssohn, Symphony No. 4 ‘Italian’
’Tis the Season (December 13, 2025)
James S. Kahane, Conductor
Hamilton Children’s Choir, Guest Artists
Hamilton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Guest Artists
The orchestra celebrates the festive season with classic carols and holiday songs, along with other upbeat music of the holidays. Local dancers add to the experience on stage with the HPO, HPYO and Hamilton Children’s Choir.
Monomyth: The Hero’s Journey (January 17, 2026)
Alondra de la Parra, Conductor
Thomas Enhco, Piano
Symphonic blockbusters open the new year for the HPO, performing with soloist Thomas Enhco in a program of Mozart and Beethoven, opening with Grazyna Bacewicz’s fiery Overture.
The program includes:
- Grazyna Bacewicz, Overture
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 21
- Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 3 “Eroica”
From Hamilton, With Love: HPO & Dwayne Gretzky (February 14, 2026)
Lucas Waldin, Conductor
Dwayne Gretzky, Guest Artists
Dwayne Gretzky and conductor Lucas Waldin lead the HPO in hits from the 60s, 70s and 80s in a musical celebration of love.
Dancing Through Life (March 21, 2026)
James S. Kahane, Conductor
Susanne Hou, Violin
Dance-inspired music makes up the program of this concert, with Canadian violinist Susanne Hou performing as the soloist in Saint-Saëns’ Spanish-inflected Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso. A Spanish theme is also evoked in Philippe Hersant’s Rondes de Nuit, added to the program along with works by Ravel and Dvořák.
The program includes:
- Maurice Ravel (Arr. Zoltán Kocsis), Le Tombeau de Couperin
- Camille Saint-Saëns, Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso
- Philippe Hersant, Rondes de Nuit
- Antonín Dvořák, Symphony No. 8
Myth & Memory (April 18, 2026)
James S. Kahane, Conductor
Stephen Sitarski, Violin
HPO concertmaster Stephen Sitarski performs Beethoven’s only violin concerto in a program that also includes monumental Brahms, and an evocative work by Paul Hindemith.
The program includes:
- Paul Hindemith, Amor and Psyche (Farnesina)
- Ludwig van Beethoven, Violin Concerto
- Johannes Brahms, Symphony No. 3
Tchaikovsky’s Fate (May 2, 2026)
James S. Kahane, Conductor
Anna Fedorova, Piano
Arvo Pärt’s musical memorial for English composer Benjamin Britten opens the program for the season finale concert. Pianist Anna Fedorova performs Rachmaninoff, with Tchaikovsky’s 5th, and a new work by the next HPO Composer Fellow, rounding out the bill.
The program includes:
- Arvo Pärt, Cantus in memoriam Benjamin Britten
- Sergei Rachmaninoff, Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini
- Composer Fellow: New Work
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 5
Off-The-Mainstage Concert Series
Collaborations and innovations characterize the Off-The-Mainstage series.
Considering Matthew Shepard (November 26, 2025)
The Elora Singers, Guest Artists
Composer Craig Hella Johnson’s powerful fusion oratorio pays tribute to the life and tragic death of Matthew Shepard. The young gay man’s 1998 murder became a spark that led to change. Johnson’s piece for soloists, choir, and chamber orchestra interweaves personal reflections, poems, and historical texts.
Handel’s Messiah (December 5 & 7, 2025)
Co-production with Bach Elgar Choir
The HPO and the Bach Elgar Choir join forces for Handel’s holiday classic in a performance that’s sure to add to the spirit of the festive season.
Mozart’s Don Giovanni (February 7, 2026)
James Kahane, Conductor
COSA, Guest Artists
Mozart’s Don Giovanni has both comic and tragic moments in its telling of the Don Juan story. The HPO collaborates with the Centre for Opera Studies & Appreciation Canada to share the magic of the art form with orchestral accompaniment.
Intimate & Immersive: Earth Songs (April 8, 2026)
James Kahane, Conductor
The HPO Intimate & Immersive series returns for an atmospheric concert experience at the historic Cotton Factory loft. The space will be transformed with multimedia installations and projections designed to complement the music.
Subscriptions & Tickets
Find the tickets you want:
- Subscription packages are on sale now [HERE].
- Single tickets to off-the-mainstage concerts are also available now.
- Single tickets for all mainstage concert at FirstOntario Concert Hall go on sale August 14.
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