Awe-inspiring live music for everyone: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra announces performances across the South West
Enyi Okpara, Dani Howard, Jess Gillam, Roderick Williams
Chief Conductor Mark Wigglesworth conducts 22 performances across the season including Basingstoke, Bristol, Exeter, Fareham, Poole, Sherborne and Taunton.
Works by the Orchestra’s Celebrated Composer, Dani Howard, feature in 15 performances. Jess Gillam performs the UK premiere of Howard’s Saxophone Concerto in Bristol and Poole.
Roderick Williams OBE becomes the Orchestra’s Artist-in-Residence, with four appearances across the season. The superstar baritone also joins the BSO’s Participate work beyond the stage during his residency.
Principal Guest Conductor Chloé Van Soeterstède conducts music by Lili Boulanger, Dvořák, Saint-Saens and Poulenc. Conductor Laureate Kirill Karabits OBE marks Shostakovich’s 50th anniversary, and Associate Guest Conductor David Hill MBE returns with Duruflé’s Requiem.
Calleva Assistant Conductor Enyi Okpara’s second year includes a main season concert of Bax, Beethoven and Vaughan Williams, plus a series of symphonic Schools’ Concerts, and a tour with BSO Resound across Bristol, Dorset and Hampshire.
The BSO extends its support for 7 regular Community and Wellbeing Orchestras in Bodmin, Boscombe, Bristol, Chard, Exeter, Southampton and Wincanton, following successful pilots in recent seasons. Plus, its programme with Arts in Hospital at Dorset County Hospital extends to Dorset HealthCare sites across the county.
The Orchestra broadcasts 19 livestreamed Digital Concerts from Lighthouse, Poole – and its ‘BSO On Your Doorstep’ chamber-scale concerts continue, taking music into rural and isolated communities.
A major part of the Orchestra’s work, BSO Pops shares 28 orchestral performances spanning film music favourites of John Williams and Hans Zimmer to symphonic specials of music by ELO, Led Zeppelin and more. Including, Fareham Live, and, for the first time Plymouth’s Theatre Royal.
Main season debuts, include: conductors David Bates, Ludovic Morlot, Anna Rakitina; cellists Julian Steckel, Hugo Svedberg; guitarist Plínio Fernandes; organist Anna Lapwood; pianists Alim Beisembayev, Alexandre Tharaud; saxophonist Jess Gillam; singers Claudia Boyle, Anna Dennis, Bethany Horak-Hallet, Anita Monserrat, Joshua Stewart, William Thomas, Talis Trevigne; viola player Timothy Ridout; violinist Stephen Waarts.
Returning guests include: conductors Tom Fetherstonhaugh, Thierry Fischer, Marta Gardolińska, Sunwook Kim, Gergely Madaras, Karl-Heinz Steffens; cellists Johannes Moser, Daniel Müller-Schott; pianists Yulianna Avdeeva, Martin James Bartlett, Elisabeth Brauß, Boris Giltburg, Sir Stephen Hough, Vadym Kholodenko, Paul Lewis, Steven Osborne, Cédric Tiberghien; singers Anthony Gregory, Jennifer Johnston, Ashley Riches, Elizabeth Watts; violinists Nikita Boriso-Glebsky, Ning Feng, Clara-Jumi Kang.
Mark Wigglesworth, Chief Conductor of the BSO, said: ‘I am so proud to be part of this amazing orchestra, and next season promises a huge number of unforgettable performances. I am thrilled by the enormous breadth of music we will be playing for the vast number of people who choose to share in the experiences the BSO offers. Our communities are richer because of the concerts the BSO gives and in turn we at the BSO receive immeasurable inspiration and fulfilment from those who hear us play. It is a real privilege to be part of such strong musical and social connections.’
Dani Howard, the BSO’s 2025/26 Celebrated Composer, said: ‘It’s a privilege to become the BSO’s first Celebrated Composer, and I’m thrilled that audiences in the South West will experience my music under the baton of Mark Wigglesworth. The season opens with The Butterfly Effect, a work that explores the consequences of seemingly small actions, before the brilliant Jess Gillam gives the UK premiere of my Saxophone Concerto in early November. Coalescence is a work that explores the interplay between humanity and nature, and I’m eager for audiences in Exeter and Poole to hear it next spring.’
Baritone Roderick Williams OBE, the BSO’s 2025/26 Artist-in-Residence, said: ‘I’m really looking forward to my forthcoming residency with the BSO this year, both working with the Orchestra in the concert hall and also taking part in the essential work they do elsewhere. It will be a personal pleasure to work with Mark Wigglesworth again and to join soprano Claudia Boyle in Zemlinsky’s Lyric Symphony – a work that has featured on my wish list for a long time – and joining the solo quartet team for Tippett’s A Child of Our Time, a piece very close to my heart. On a smaller scale, I shall welcome audiences to my song recital – An English Winterreise, with pianist Christopher Glynn – which features 24 English language songs which are each inspired by the 24 individual songs from Schubert’s great masterpiece: I look forward to bringing all this to Poole next season and to meeting fellow music-lovers from across the region.’
Dougie Scarfe OBE DL, Chief Executive of the BSO, said: ‘We can’t wait for audiences to experience our upcoming season with Chief Conductor Mark Wigglesworth firmly embedded in the role. Among many highlights, we’ll welcome superstar baritone Roderick Williams as Artist-in-Residence and share the music of Dani Howard, who becomes our first Celebrated Composer – a new series that builds on the Orchestra’s heritage of supporting new British music.
‘We’re also proud to extend support for seven regular Community and Wellbeing Orchestras and to create a performance pathway for members of the National Open Youth Orchestra who unite with BSO Resound and musicians from the Orchestra to tour the region. Experiencing music together has a deep impact on people’s lives, and we’re proud to continue our series of ‘BSO on Your Doorstep’ chamber-scale concerts, reaching people in rural and community centres. Brilliant, live music is awe-inspiring and it’s for everyone: wherever you are in the South West – or beyond, via our 19 livestreamed Digital Concerts – we’re excited to share this extraordinary season with you.’
For further information and to book tickets click here.
Dear Dougie
I would like to thank you all and especially the livestream team for the excellent work they do in giving such enjoyment for those of us too infirm now to make the journey to Poole in person. Since the first experience during lockdown I have enjoyed all the concerts livestreamed. It is a great experience to be among the orchestra rather than viewing the performance from the gallery!
With very best wishes to you all.