Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops Unveil Details of the 2026–27 Season

Măcelaru to Conduct World Premiere of Errollyn Wallen’s Concerto for Orchestra,
U.S. Premiere of Mark Simpson’s Piano Concerto and First U.S. Performance of George Enescu’s Symphony No. 3 in Nearly 100 Years

Featured Guest Artists to Include Pianists Lang Lang, Víkingur Ólafsson, Isata Kanneh-Mason and Conrad Tao; Violinists Ray Chen, Gil Shaham and Leila Josefowicz; Cellist Alisa Weilerstein; Saxophonist Steven Banks; Roomful of Teeth and More

Conducting Debuts to Include Philippe Jordan, Gemma New, Delyana Lazarova and Marta Gardolińska

Cincinnati Pops Program Highlights Include The Billy Joel Songbook Featuring Tony DeSare, Tony Award-Winning Vocalist Lea Salonga, Steve Hackman’s Stravinsky X Kendrick Lamar, Holiday Pops Featuring Grammy-Winning Singer-Songwriter Gaby Moreno and More

Film with Live Orchestra to Include Four Classics: La La Land, Hook, Psycho and Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol

Cincinnati Pops Extends Contract with Conductor John Morris Russell

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CINCINNATI, OH (February 26, 2026)—The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and Cincinnati Pops unveiled programming details for the 2026–27 season, marking Music Director Cristian Măcelaru’s second season at the helm of the Orchestra.

CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The 2026–27 season reflects Music Director Cristian Măcelaru’s expansive artistic vision: a deep commitment to collaboration with the world’s foremost artists, new works by living composers and the rediscovery of music by Romanian composer George Enescu, whose artistry has profoundly influenced Măcelaru’s career.

“The extraordinary depth brought to our stage in 2026–27 by artists such as Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Lang Lang and Nicola Benedetti reflects our commitment to ensuring that Cincinnati remains a city where the arts flourish and where symphonic music is embraced with curiosity, passion and pride. As Music Director, I see each season as an invitation to deepen our connection to composers we know and love while discovering voices that may be new to us. I particularly look forward to sharing the monumental Third Symphony of the great Romanian composer George Enescu. Nearly a century after its premiere, this visionary work still awaits the widespread recognition it deserves,” said Mӑcelaru.

Music Director Cristian Mӑcelaru and the CSO

Cristian Mӑcelaru leads a significant portion of the CSO season, shaping its artistic throughline across symphonic masterworks, major commissions and cross-genre collaborations. Highlights include:

• CSO & Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra Festival (October 2, 3 & 4, 2026), featuring Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with Nicola Benedetti, the co-commission of Wynton Marsalis’ Symphony No. 5, entitled Liberty, Marsalis’ Violin Concerto and a reimagined Pictures at an Exhibition, plus a CSO presentation of Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.
• Songs of Destiny (October 17 & 18, 2026), presenting Howell’s Lamia, Khachaturian’s Violin Concerto with Alexandra Conunova and Brahms’ Nänie and Schicksalslied with the May Festival Chorus (Matthew Swanson, director).
• Cristi Conducts Brahms Symphony No. 3 (January 8 & 9, 2027), featuring Florence Price’s Ethiopia’s Shadow in America, the U.S. premiere of Mark Simpson’s Piano Concerto with Víkingur Ólafsson and Brahms’ Symphony No. 3.
• Come As You Are (January 15 & 16, 2027), highlighting contemporary and American voices including Jessie Montgomery’s Snapshots, Steven Banks’ Come As You Are with Banks as saxophone soloist, Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story and Ellington’s Night Creature.
• Don Quixote & Enescu Symphony No. 3 (January 22 & 23, 2027), featuring Strauss’ Don Quixote with cellist Alisa Weilerstein and CSO’s Principal Viola Christian Colberg, and George Enescu’s Symphony No. 3 with the May Festival Chorus (Matthew Swanson, director).
• Extraordinary Women (March 5 & 6, 2027), featuring overtures by Fanny Mendelssohn and Emilie Mayer, Clara Schumann’s piano concerto with pianist Alexandra Dariescu and the world premiere of Errollyn Wallen’s Concerto for Orchestra (co-commission).
• Bach St. Matthew Passion (March 13 & 14, 2027), with Louise Alder, Karen Cargill, Nicholas Phan, Morgan Smith and the May Festival Chorus (Matthew Swanson, director).
• Lang Lang Plays Rachmaninoff (April 7, 2027), including Enescu’s Concert Overture on Popular Romanian Themes with Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2.
• Cristi Conducts Mahler Symphony No. 9 (May 8 & 9, 2027), presenting Mahler’s final symphonic masterpiece.
• Ray Chen, Korngold & Shostakovich (May 14 & 15, 2027), featuring Eunike Tanzil’s Remembering, Korngold’s Violin Concerto with violinist Ray Chen and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10.

Christian Colberg’s performance of Richard Strauss’ Don Quixote on January 22 and 23, 2027 is made possible by John and Molly Kerman. The performance of Cristi Conducts Maher Symphony No. 9 is made possible in part by Presenting Sponsors Peter Landgren and Judith Schonbach.

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis Residency

The CSO season opens with a residency featuring Măcelaru’s longtime friend and collaborator Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, the world’s premier big band. Marsalis, one of the most influential figures in jazz, announced in January 2026 that he would step down as Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center after nearly 40 years. This residency with Măcelaru and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra represents one of Marsalis’ valedictory appearances in that role, making this engagement historic for Cincinnati audiences.

The residency also features Nicola Benedetti, one of the most sought-after violinists of her generation. On October 2, Benedetti will perform Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto paired with Marsalis’ Symphony No. 5, Liberty, which was co-commissioned by the CSO to celebrate the 250^th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. On October 3, Benedetti and Măcelaru will reprise Marsalis’ Violin Concerto, which Măcelaru and Benedetti recorded with The Philadelphia Orchestra. The recording subsequently won the Grammy Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo at the 62^nd Grammy Awards. This program also includes a Marsalis-Măcelaru jazz-infused reinterpretation of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. The residency concludes on October 4 with a CSO presentation of Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.

The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis appearance is supported by the Carl M. Jacobs Foundation.
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis residency is made possible by a generous gift from the Friedlander Family.

Special Event: Lang Lang Plays Rachmaninoff

For the first time in over a decade, internationally renowned pianist Lang Lang returns to Music Hall on April 7, 2027, for a one-night-only performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2. A longtime collaborator of Măcelaru and the CSO, Lang Lang recently performed with Măcelaru ahead of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony, in 2025 with Interlochen Arts Camp’s World Youth Symphony Orchestra and Lang Lang previously served as CSO Creative Partner. Subscribers receive first access to purchase tickets for this event. Individual tickets go on sale April 15, 2026.

New Works, Premieres and Rediscovered Masterworks

The CSO’s 2026–27 season showcases Măcelaru’s commitment to premieres, new works and rediscovered repertoire, including several Cincinnati premieres of recent works.

Grammy-winning pianist Víkingur Ólafsson joins Măcelaru and the Orchestra for the U.S. premiere of Mark Simpson’s Piano Concerto on January 8 and 9, 2027, in a program spanning three centuries of musical expression. January 15 and 16, 2027, Măcelaru conducts the Cincinnati premiere of Jessie Montgomery’s Snapshots. This concert also includes Grammy-nominated saxophonist Steven Banks performing his own concerto Come As You Are, Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story and Duke Ellington’s Night Creature.

As the world’s leading interpreter of George Enescu’s music, Măcelaru brings the Romanian composer’s Symphony No. 3 to the U.S. for the first time in a century on January 22 and 23, 2027, building on acclaimed CSO performances of Enescu’s Romanian Rhapsody No. 1 during his inaugural season as Music Director and his extensive recordings of the composer’s music. Măcelaru is the youngest Artistic Director in the history of the George Enescu International Festival and Competition in his home country of Romania.

March 5 and 6, 2027, Măcelaru leads the world premiere of Errollyn Wallen’s Concerto for Orchestra, in a program spotlighting female composers from the 19^th century: Clara Schumann, Fanny Mendelssohn and Emilie Mayer. Wallen currently serves as Master of the King’s Music, appointed by King Charles III in 2024.

April 10 and 11, 2027, Delyana Lazarova leads the Cincinnati premiere of Orpheus’ Comet by Grammy-nominated composer Dobrinka Tabakova. May 14 and 15, 2027, Măcelaru conducts the Cincinnati premiere of Eunike Tanzil’s Remembering on a program with Korngold’s Violin Concerto performed by Ray Chen and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10.

The newly commissioned Concerto for Orchestra by Errollyn Wallen is made possible by Kari and Jon Ullman.

Conductor and Guest Artist Debuts

Four conductors make their CSO debuts in 2026–27, three of them women previously mentored by Măcelaru himself.

Philippe Jordan leads the Orchestra in an all-Richard Strauss program on November 21 and 22, 2026 that includes Death and Transfiguration, his Oboe Concerto featuring CSO Principal Oboe Dwight Parry and Also sprach Zarathustra.

December 4 and 5, 2026, Gemma New makes her CSO conducting debut, leading a program that traces the evolution of classical music from Maria Grenfell’s Clockwerk and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23, featuring pianist Conrad Tao, to Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony and Haydn’s London Symphony.

April 10 and 11, 2027, Delyana Lazarova, who studied with Măcelaru during his first conducting class at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, conducts a program that features pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason, also making her CSO debut, performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27. The program includes the CSO premiere of Orpheus’ Comet by Grammy-nominated composer Dobrinka Tabakova and concludes with Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5.

April 23 and 24, 2027, Marta Gardolińska leads three works by Mélanie Bonis: Ophelie, Salomé and Le songe de Cléopâtre, each of which tells the story of the tragic lives of influential historical heroines; Szymanowski’s Violin Concerto No. 2, featuring the return of violinist Leila Josefowicz, and Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances.

In addition to the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, the season also includes several guest artist debuts.

October 17 and 18, 2026, violinist Alexandra Conunova joins Măcelaru and the CSO for Khachaturian’s Violin Concerto.

February 27 and 28, 2027, Grammy Award-winning vocal band Roomful of Teeth joins CSO Creative Partner Matthias Pintscher and the Orchestra for Berio’s Sinfonia on a centuries-spanning program that includes Neuwirth’s Dreydl and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, Pastorale.

March 13 and 14, 2027, Măcelaru leads the Orchestra, May Festival Chorus (Matthew Swanson, director), and a star-studded cast of soloists in Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, an oratorio that tells the story of Jesus Christ’s last days according to the Gospel of Matthew. Soloists include soprano Louise Alder, mezzo-soprano Karen Cargil and baritone Morgan Smith in their CSO debuts and returning tenor Nicholas Phan.

April 2 and 3, 2027, pianist Sunwook Kim debuts in a performance of Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto with the CSO led by Music Director Laureate Louis Langrée. The program also includes Adam’s The Chairman Dances, Haydn’s L’isola disabitata overture and Kodály’s Dances of Galánta.

Dwight Parry’s performance of Richard Strauss’ Oboe Concerto on November 21 and 22, 2026 is made possible by John and Molly Kerman.

Returning Conductors

Music Director Laureate Louis Langrée returns twice next season. In addition to conducting Sunwook Kim’s CSO debut on April 2 and 3, 2027, Langrée will also conduct three works by Ravel on November 13 and 14, 2026: Ma mère l’Oye, La valse and Boléro, each showcasing Ravel’s diverse composition styles. The program will also include Tomasi’s Trumpet Concerto featuring CSO Principal Trumpet Anthony Limoncelli in his CSO solo debut.

October 30 and 31, 2026, Grammy-winning conductor Kwamé Ryan reunites with the Orchestra for the first time in twenty years, for a program inspired by Beethoven. Ryan will conduct Schubert’s Symphony No. 9, The Great and Carlos Simon’s Fate Now Conquers, both drawing inspiration from Beethoven: Schubert from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Simon from a journal entry in Beethoven’s notebook. Violinist Gil Shaham returns to Music Hall to perform Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto.

February 5 and 6, 2027, Ramón Tebar conducts the Orchestra in Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet: Overture-Fantasie and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4, Romantic.

Anthony Limoncelli’s performance of Tomasi’s Trumpet Concerto on April 2 and 3, 2027 is made possible by John and Molly Kerman.

Featured Artists Listing

Artists making their CSO debut include pianist Alexandra Dariescu, soprano Louise Alder, mezzo-soprano Karen Cargil, baritone Morgan Smith, pianist Sunwook Kim, CSO Principal Trumpet Anthony Limoncelli, pianist Alexandra Conunova, pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason, Roomful of Teeth and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

Returning artists include pianist Conrad Tao, Saxophonist Steven Banks, pianist Lang Lang, violinist Ray Chen, violinist Gil Shaham, cellist Alisa Weilerstein, pianist Víkingur Ólafsson, violinist Leila Josefowicz, tenor Nicholas Phan, CSO Principal Oboe Dwight Parry, CSO Principal Viola Christian Colberg and the May Festival Chorus (Matthew Swanson, director).

CINCINNATI POPS

In the 2026–27 season, the Cincinnati Pops celebrates American music through its multitude of styles and genres – from Broadway to Bluegrass and Hip-hop to Hollywood. In addition, the season features cinematic favorites and top artists performing popular classics alongside the Pops. The Orchestra also announced a two-year contract extension with conductor John Morris Russell effective through the end of the 2027–28 season. Russell is currently in his 15th season with the Pops.

“For the past 15 years, John Morris Russell has been a guiding force for the Cincinnati Pops, bringing artistry, joy and a true sense of occasion to every concert,” said Robert McGrath, President & CEO of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops. “He has a rare gift for connecting audiences of all ages, honoring the traditions that define us while continually finding new ways to keep the experience vibrant and relevant. We’re proud to continue building on that strong foundation together in the years ahead.”

On September 12 and 13, 2026, Tony Award-winning vocalist Lea Salonga joins the Cincinnati Pops and John Morris Russell for a night of Broadway hits and film songs. Known for her performances in Les Misérables and Miss Saigon, as well as the singing voice for Disney’s Jasmine and Mulan, Salonga and the Cincinnati Pops come together for a night of timeless favorites.

On September 25–27, 2026 with John Morris Russell’s Orchestral Canvas, a multimedia experience featuring artwork from the world’s greatest museums on the big screen paired to classics like Gershwin’s An American in Paris and Respighi’s Pines of Rome. Images by artists like Van Gogh and Picasso will be digitally choreographed in an immersive experience created by Cincinnati’s Lightborne.

December 11–13, 2026, Cincinnati’s beloved annual holiday tradition with John Morris Russell and the Pops returns to Music Hall for six performances over three days. Grammy winning singer-songwriter Gaby Moreno joins the Orchestra for festive favorites, old and new, with the Holiday Pops Chorale and Cincinnati’s award-winning Studio for Dance.

Celebrating American roots on April 30–May 2, 2027, John Morris Russell leads the Pops’ first Bluegrass Summit featuring today’s most talented bluegrass artists. Joining the Pops are fiddler Michael Cleveland and his Grammy-winning band Flamekeeper, Americana and folk blended band The Steel Wheels and 2020 International Bluegrass Music Awards Entertainer of the Year Sister Sadie.

“Each season at The Pops we endeavor to capture the essence of America’s dizzyingly diverse and intensely imaginative popular music scene, to create orchestral programs that inspire,” said Russell. “From the Orchestra’s virtuosic performances in an array of American musical styles, multisensory experiences and amazing artists, The Pops is about bringing people together in unique experiences that you can’t find anywhere else. From dazzling digital displays set to orchestral classics, family-friendly movies like Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol performed live with film, to a summit of the hottest Bluegrass/Americana bands — the Pops does it all. We can’t wait to share these programs with all of Cincinnati.”

March 19–21, 2027, Pops Principal Guest Conductor Damon Gupton conducts the music of Billy Joel, including “Only the Good Die Young,” “Just the Way You Are,” “Piano Man” and more —

performed with award-winning singer and pianist Tony DeSare.

Ringing in the New Year, Byron Stripling leads the Cincinnati Pops through some of Motown’s greatest hits for Dancing in the Street: Music of Motown. The New Year’s Eve concert will include songs by artists like Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, The Temptations and Stevie Wonder.

Conductor Steve Hackman leads the Cincinnati Pops on January 29 and 30, 2027 for Stravinsky X Kendrick Lamar: A combination of Stravinsky’s Petrushka with Kendrick Lamar’s Pulitzer Prize-winning album DAMN. The two works, linked between their themes of struggles with identity and reality, come together as Stravinsky’s puppets begin to experience emotions through corresponding songs on Kendrick’s album, like “LOVE” and “FEAR.”

The performance of the Billy Joel Songbook with Tony DeSare is made possible in part by Presenting Sponsors Kelly Dehan and Rick Staudigel.

Pops Films in Concert

The Cincinnati Pops’ commitment to cinematic experiences continues with four films accompanied by a live orchestral performance: La La Land in Concert, Psycho in Concert, Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert Live to Film and Hook in Concert.

The Pops’ season opens on September 5 and 6 with a live-to-film performance of La La Land in Concert, celebrating the 10^th anniversary of the Academy Award-winning film. Conducted by Damon Gupton, who appeared in the film, the show features a full orchestra and jazz band performing the Academy Award-winning score composed by Justin Hurwitz, live alongside the movie. Experience the unforgettable musical moments that have captivated audiences worldwide, including the unbelievable piano solos, brought vividly to life in concert!

This Halloween, the Cincinnati Pops will perform the live score to Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller, Psycho, on October 27, 2026. Under the direction of guest conductor Sarah Hicks, the Cincinnati Pops will perform Bernard Herrmann’s suspenseful music as the movie comes to life on the big screen.

On November 28 and 29, 2026, the Cincinnati Pops gets into the Christmas spirit by performing Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert Live to Film. Pops Assistant Conductor Duo Shen leads the Orchestra through the score to the full-length screening of the Muppets’ twist on Charles Dickens’ classic holiday tale.

In the first concert of 2027, the Pops bring Steven Spielberg’s film, Hook, to life. On January 2 and 3, the Pops, conducted by Pops Assistant Conductor Alex Amsel, performs John Williams’ swashbuckling score live-to-picture as the full film plays on the big screen above the orchestra. Starring Robin Williams, Julia Roberts and Dustin Hoffman, the 1991 classic features the struggle between growing up and staying young at heart.

CSO Proof

CSO Proof, the Orchestra’s innovative series launched in 2019, continues to expand the boundaries of concert presentation, incorporating theater, dance and visual media to create transformative audience experiences, challenge the constructs of a traditional orchestra performance and add new dimensions to the concert experience.

On April 12, 2027, CSO Creative Partner Matthias Pintscher leads The Genesis Project, a CSO co-commission exploring the seven days of The Creation through seven compositions by Mark Andre, Chen Yi, Francesco Filidei, Saad Haddad, Hannah Kendall, Lisa Streich and Mikel Urquiza.

Classical Roots

A Cincinnati tradition for more than two decades, John Morris Russell will conduct the annual Classical Roots concert on April 17, 2027, at Music Hall. The Classical Roots Community Choir, under the direction of Jason Alexander Holmes, joins the CSO, members of the Nouveau Program and acclaimed artists for this one-night only event celebrating Black excellence and joy.

YOUTH CONCERTS

Lollipops Family Series

The interactive Lollipops Family Concerts engage audiences through fun and accessible programs and are designed specifically for children aged 2–9. Each concert lasts just under an hour and includes pre-concert crafts and activities. This season’s Lollipops programs include bringing the story of Ferdinand the Bull to life on stage on October 10, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. and Play Ball! on April 3, 2027, at 10:30 a.m.

Young People’s Concerts

Young People’s Concerts, designed for students in grades K-6, introduce young listeners to the world of orchestral music with approachable and educational programs. The Fall Young People Concert is November 17 & 18, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. and the Spring Young People’s Concert is March 16 & 17, 2027 at 10:30 a.m.

Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestras 

The Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestras (CSYO), made up of 200 of the region’s most talented young musicians, provides a crucial bridge between aspiring artists and the professional stage. The CSYO Concert Orchestra and Philharmonic Orchestra will both perform on December 6, 2026 and May 16, 2027. The season will also include an additional CSYO+CSO Side by Side concert, giving students two opportunities to perform with their professional counterparts from the CSO, reinforcing the Orchestra’s commitment to mentorship, community engagement and the development of the next generation of musicians.

TICKET DETAILS

Season ticket packages are currently on sale. Individual tickets for the 2026–27 season go on sale to the public on June 3, 2026. Individual tickets for “Lang Lang Plays Rachmaninoff” go on sale April 15, 2026. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit cincinnatisymphony.org or call the CSO’s box office at 513.381.3300.

As part of the CSO’s ongoing commitment to access, individual ticket discounts are available for first-time attendees, students, groups, military and senior citizens.