We're turning 40 next year and here's how we're planning to celebrate with our 2025/26 season at the Southbank Centre. We've called it Fantastic Symphonies.
Redefining the meaning of the term “big bash” we’ve got so much lined up that it’s going to last until 2027. Over two seasons we’ll be packing in much of the repertoire that has been central to the OAE’s story over the last 40 years – featuring major works by Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Berlioz and Brahms – as well as our relish for pushing the boundaries of historically informed performance.
The Orchestra gave its first official concert at Oxford Town Hall on 26 June 1986. Leading up to the anniversary date, will be four concerts embodying the range of the OAE’s work – a mini festival, if you will. But every concert in the season (and beyond) will be filled with music and guests that celebrate all that the OAE is.
On the day of the anniversary, Friday 26 June, the OAE will return to Oxford Town Hall for a gala evening that will tell the story of the OAE through its music and toast the people that made it possible.
But what have we got lined up at the Southbank Centre for you…
We have been ambitious in our planning! We'll feature special friends from our roster of conductors and artists who've established meaningful connections with the Orchestra, each offering their unique artistic vision to our stage. We'll reflect fondly on our musical past by re-visiting programmes that were highlights of previous years, whilst, looking ahead, we are forging exciting new relationships to venture even wider in terms of repertoire challenges over our next forty years.
Annette Isserlis - viola player and "season curator"
I thought what would I miss the most with those instruments now and it was those pieces... what a great thing to have these two extraordinary symphonies by Berlioz together... it's going to be a blast!
Sir Simon Rattle
Our education programme is built on partnerships and creating projects that support the students’ interests, needs, learning and development. I love the music we play. We don’t own it! Sharing that love is really important and opening the doors to say ‘this can be yours too – it’s for everyone and anyone who wants it. Let’s play with it.’ That’s the reason I love being involved in the OAE’s education work.
Cecelia Bruggemeyer, double bass and chair of the Players Artistic Committee
In those days it was a bit Wild West in the best possible way. To do this you had to be very unusual… and that I found completely heaven.
Sir Simon Rattle
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