WSO announces exciting lineup for 2025/26 Season

The magic of live music, the thrill of a full orchestra, and performances by world-class soloists will continue to move, inspire, and astound concert-goers in the WSO’s 2025/26 season.

“Still in the middle of a busy and inspiring current season, I am looking into the next one, 2025/26, with a great sense of excitement,” shares Music Director Daniel Raiskin. “I am excited about the WSO welcoming back some truly exceptional artists who have become dear friends of the orchestra and our audiences, but also new names that will without any doubt bring lots of enthusiasm together with their world-class artistry.”

From the technical brilliance of virtuoso pianist Alexei Volodin on Opening Night to the unique, sultry voice of Canadian jazz/pop vocalist Jill Barber, to the climactic finale of Harry’s journey in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2™ in Concert, the 2025/26 season is full of exciting moments that audiences will not want to miss.

Featuring orchestral masterworks and renowned soloists, the Saturday Classics series remains the ideal way to experience classical music in traditional fashion. This September, award-winning pianist Alexei Volodin opens the new season in style with a stunning performance of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1. The excitement continues as the WSO presents the Agassiz Cello Festival Grand Finale with exceptional cellists Bryan Cheng, Denise Djokic, and Alban Gerhardt.

On Valentine’s Day, Memphis Symphony Orchestra’s Music Director Robert Moody leads the WSO and talented rising star violinist Kevin Zhu in works by Bernstein & Rachmaninoff. “All the works selected examine, showcase, and explore various ideas of love,” says Simeon Rusnak, WSO Director of Classical Programming.

Rune Bergmann, Music Director of the Calgary Philharmonic, takes on a journey to Nordic Horizons, featuring music from Denmark, Finland, and Norway. Closing the season, Boris Allakhverdyan, the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Principal Clarinet, features in a program with works by Mozart & Shostakovich.

This season’s Thursday Classics feature a mix of contemporary works and hidden orchestral gems. The WSO presents the world premiere of Composer-in-Residence Haralabos [Harry] Stafylakis’ Symphony No. 3 in Cosmoi: Stafylakis & Theofanidis. 

Audiences will appreciate the “warm-toned, easy fluidity” of violinist Alexandra Conunova’s playing (Gramophone) in Khachaturian & Bernstein. Guest conductor Nodoka Okisawa and Canadian pianist Stewart Goodyear return to the WSO for an evening featuring the music of French Masters, including Ravel.

RBC Assistant Conductor Monica Chen leads the WSO for an Italian-inspired program featuring Mendelssohn and Scarlatti in Echoes of Italy at Knox United Church. “Taking advantage of the warm, resonant acoustic of the venue, the Cantata for Soprano, Trumpet & Strings by Alessandro Scarlatti, features two of the city’s own: soprano Christina Thanisch-Smith and WSO Principal Trumpet Chris Fensom,” adds Rusnak.

The final concert in the series features Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and a work featuring drum soloist and Daniel Raiskin’s son, Ilia Rayskin. Raiskin shares, “In March 2026, I will most proudly share the stage with my son Ilia, who will be the soloist in the Concerto for Drum-set and Orchestra The Tyrant’s Crush by Stewart Copeland – the legendary drummer of the “Police” and himself a prolific composer of symphonic works and opera!”

This popular matinée series offers concert-goers another chance to experience WSO’s Classic concerts. With two more concerts this season, these Sunday afternoon concerts starting at 2:00 p.m. provide concert-goers an enjoyable option for weekend symphony outings, thanks to the generous support of the Loewen family.

Three of the concerts are encore performances of Saturday Classics, while the other two feature a slightly modified program. Pianist Volodin follows his opening night performance with Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in Volodin Plays Tchaikovsky 2. Violinist Conunova will once again stun audiences in a concert with works full of Passion & Drama, including Dvořák’s Carnival Overture and Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture.

Audiences can look forward to a stellar lineup of cinematic masterpieces as the WSO performs the score live!  “Film scores have grown into a vital and vibrant part of the modern orchestral art form, and we are proud to present many of the best,” says Michael Falk, WSO Senior Director of Artistic Operations.

“This season, we are embracing great adventures! We bring our celebrated run of the Harry Potter stories to a close, with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2™ in Concert,” he adds. “We’re picking up a new collection of heroes with James Bond in Casino Royale in Concert and John Williams’ classic score in Indiana Jones & Raiders of the Lost Ark™ Live in Concert.”

Just in time for spooky season, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari in Concert will keep concert-goers on the edge of their seats at the Burton Cummings Theatre. The WSO also embarks on an exciting Viking adventure with the animated feature, How to Train Your Dragon in Concert.

This series is presented by BMO.

The Manitoba Liquor Marts Live at the WSO Matinée series starts with Oscar Peterson 100th Anniversary Tribute to Oscar Peterson. “We are celebrating Canada’s preeminent jazz legend with a groundbreaking concert led by a quartet of Canadian jazz all-stars, including Winnipeg’s own JUNO-winner Jocelyn Gould,” shares Falk.

Concert-goers can experience an enchanting symphonic journey with Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi’s wonderful Music of Studio Ghibli films, and sway to the melodies in a birthday celebration fit for “The Waltz King,” Johann Strauss Jr., in Strauss, Dances & Dreams.

Starting at 2:00 pm on weekend afternoons, these afternoon concerts are perfect for fun symphony outings.

This series is presented by Manitoba Liquor Marts.