Orchestre symphonique de Montréal Announces its 2025–26 Season
Apr 10, 2025The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal unveiled its 2025–2026 season, which is Rafael Payare’s 4th season as Music Director. The OSM will be joined by an array of renowned artists from near and far, including many anticipated return performances and a great diversity of repertoires. This will be a season of symphonic masterworks, symphonic happy hours, music and film concerts, over-the-top éclaté concerts, POP concerts, and concerts for young audiences. Our public will discover, or rediscover works by Mozart, Brahms, Moussa, Stravinsky, Gougeon, Shostakovich, and of course, Mahler, performed by distinguished guests including Barbara Hannigan, Emanuel Ax, Véronique Gens, Joseph Tawadros and James Ehnes.
Presenting a variety of themes and a host of renowned, emerging, and culturally diverse artists, the 2025–2026 season opens a wide window on the world. Continuing the artistic journey begun since my arrival at the OSM, this programming brings together essential classics and new discoveries. The OSM’s educational mission also takes on anew dimension with the Programme El Sistema OSM, inspired by my own educational background and providing young people with rewarding musical training through group practice. This season will beautifully epitomize the joy of playing together and of sharing music that lives. —Rafael Payare, OSM Music Director
After delighting audiences in Europe and at the Maison symphonique with Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique, the OSM and Rafael Payare will open the 25–26 season in grand style with the same composer’s La damnation de Faust, a captivating and powerfully emotional lyrical drama.
In October and in February, Payare will move forward with his Mahler cycle begun in 2022.OSM audiences will first hear the composer’s Symphony no. 9, then his Symphony no. 4.The Shostakovitch cycle also continues, with a performance of the “Leningrad” Symphony no. 7 in April 2026, conducted by Rafael Payare. Beethoven’s Symphony no. 8 will open this concert. Also, under Payare’s direction, on April 22, the Orchestra will perform Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, as well as the world premiere of a work commissioned by the OSM to Denis Gougeon and Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto no. 2 featuring Bruce Liu as soloist.
In December, Rafael Payare will be joined by the amazing Dutch violinist Simone Lamsmain Korngold’s Violin Concerto in D major, followed by Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra. In January, Emanuel Ax will be the OSM and Payare’s guest for a performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto no. 3. This concert will also feature the world premiere of a commissioned work by British Canadian composer Isabella Gellis as well as Prokofiev’s Symphony no. 5. In March, Rafael Payare and the OSM continue their cycle of Mozart operas to libretti by Lorenzo Da Ponte. This season, audiences will hear The Marriage of Figaro. In May 2026, to close the season, Rafael Payare will conduct Wagner’s The Ring Without Words, preceded by Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor, performed by the legendary Yefim Bronfman.
To explore the full season, visit osm.ca.
