All nine Beethoven symphonies, as Vancouver Symphony Orchestra unveils 2026-27 season

Steven Isserlis, James Ehnes, and Augustin Hadelich among the soloists hitting the concert stage

THE VANCOUVER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA will undertake the epic task of a complete cycle of Beethoven’s nine symphonies for its 2026–27 season. The orchestra will present the works in five concerts as the VSO marks the 200th anniversary of the composer’s death.

Performances of the cycle kick off November 26 at the Orpheum and end at the same venue on June 10 and 11, 2027, with the triumphant Ninth and its soaring “Ode to Joy”. Music director Otto Tausk is on the podium for each of the concerts, which are split into Beethoven’s periods as “Revolutionary”, “Innovator”, and “Visionary”.

The news is contained in this week’s full-season announcement, which includes such Masterworks Gold series highlights as Debussy’s La Mer and Górecki’s Symphony No. 3. The Masterworks Diamond series features Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, Grieg’s Piano Concerto, and Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde symphonic suite.

Early in the new season, on September 11, 12, and 13 at the Orpheum, Japanese pianist Hayato Sumino performs Chopin’s glistening Piano Concerto No. 1. Tchaikovsky’s rousing Symphony No. 4 and Kelly-Marie Murphy’s A Thousand Natural Shocks round out the program.

The season’s star soloists will also include violinist James Ehnes, here on his 50th birthday tour (September 8 at the Chan Centre), as well as Tokyo-born violinist Karen Gomyo, American violinist Anne Akiko Meyers, Canadian pianist Jan Lisiecki, German-American violinist Augustin Hadelich, and British cellist Steven Isserlis.

Among other highlights is the program on November 13 and 14, with piano star Inon Barnatan taking the keys for Liszt’s fiery Piano Concerto No. 1, and soprano Mireille Asselin contributing to a performance of Gorecki’s sorrowful Symphony No. 3.

The roster of guest conductors will include Osmo Vänskä, Gemma New, Jun Märkl, Alpesh Chauhan, and Alondra de la Parra.

And as for contemporary composers, the works of Vivian Fung, Nicole Lizée, and Philip Glass are set to be performed.

The London Drugs VSO Pops presents tributes to Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel, and Canadian jazz legend Oscar Peterson, along with a cinematic showdown between the music of John Williams and Hans Zimmer.

Subscription packages are available now on the VSO’s website.

Tickets go on sale to the public on May 12.

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Janet Smith

Janet Smith is founding partner and editorial director of Stir. She is a Webster Award–winning arts journalist who has spent more than three decades immersed in Vancouver’s performing arts, film, and gallery scenes. She sits on the Vancouver Film Critics’ Circle.

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