Cadogan Hall

As the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) turns 80, we’re in the mood for a celebration. Whilst the milestone allows us to reflect on the Orchestra’s glorious history, it is also an invitation for an exciting future. We’ve got a lot of stories to tell, and great music never gets old. Cadogan Hall is a place where music feels more direct, more intimate, more personal; and whether we’re bringing favourite pieces to life, premiering the classics of the future or welcoming our Music Director Vasily Petrenko, we draw our energy and inspiration from performing for you.

Our brand-new Revealed concerts aim to get under the skin of the music and give you a closer connection to the RPO. This hour-long format sees award-winning presenter Leah Broad unwrapping the works in conversation with the conductor and musicians of the Orchestra, followed by a complete performance of each symphony. Vasily will be conducting Mozart’s 'Jupiter' Symphony in this new format, followed by Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony in a full concert later in the season. But that’s just part of a season filled with melody. Great composers get back to basics, as Dvořák, Tchaikovsky, Liszt and Vaughan Williams explore the endless possibilities of folk music. There are symphonies by Shostakovich and Brahms, and a celebratory performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (with its Ode to Joy) led by Conductor-in-Residence, Adam Hickox. 

Our guest artists this season include RPO Associate Conductor Emilia Hoving, Zlatomir Fung, Jan Lisiecki, Ariane Matiakh, Sunwook Kim, Lucy Crowe, Alain Altinoglu and Johan Dalene; stars who make everything they play sound brighter. We’re thrilled, too, to welcome Liya Petrova – one of the most inspirational violinists of our time, in a residency that includes concertos by Sibelius, Beethoven and Stravinsky. But there’ll also be French fancies and Hungarian spice, a Christmas spectacular and a romantic night of classic love songs, because whatever the occasion, if something’s worth celebrating, it’s worth celebrating with music. Join us this season, as we raise the roof.

Sarah Bardwell
Managing Director, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

For the musicians who make up the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), music is more than just another sound. It’s emotion, it’s colour; it’s the gateway to different lives and unseen worlds. It’s entertainment too – and our 2025–26 Season of concerts at our home, Cadogan Hall, opens with an explosion of laughter. Over 15 concerts, we’ll be exploring favourite melodies, contemporary classics, new discoveries and sonic surprises. There’ll be fireworks, serenity, and composers who speak across continents and centuries – from Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky to the timeless beauty of Beethoven, Mozart and Brahms.

But there’ll be surprises too – forgotten treasures and lively new voices, and concerts to help you celebrate those special times of year. We’re featuring works by our Composer-in-Association Joe Hisaishi, and we’ve invited some of our favourite soloists and conductors: performers from Britain and beyond who share our belief in the power of music. Kevin John Edusei, our Conductor-in-Residence for the 2025–26 Season at Cadogan Hall, has already made quite a splash in London. He’ll showcase music by Bartók and Beethoven, as well as Gershwin’s fabulous Rhapsody in Blue with Japanese jazz piano sensation Makoto Ozone. There will be several opportunities to hear music written for the voice with incredible artists including Jess Dandy and Nicky Spence. Violinist Midori performs Sibelius’ epic Violin Concerto, pianist Boris Giltburg plays Grieg, and Sir John Rutter – a true national treasure and Honorary Member of the RPO – premieres a brand new piece for oboe and orchestra and conducts his joyous piano concerto with the incomparable Steven Osborne as soloist.

At the RPO, through every note we play, we have one ambition above all else – to let you feel the full, life-enhancing wonder of great music, played from the heart. Join us, and hear the difference.

Sarah Bardwell
Managing Director, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra